jio Journal of Agricidhire , Victoria. [lo Aug., 1912. 



Green crops should be sown in the autumn, and ploughed into the soil 

 when in flower. Special manures, such as nitrate of soda, sulphate of 

 ammonia, sulphate of potash, and superphosphate, are soon rendered 

 soluble, and thus should be appl'ed to soil when trees are becoming 

 active in early spring. 



Bonedust is a valiiabie manure for fruit trees. It is not easily rendered 

 .soluble, therefore should be applied in autumn or winter. 



Pruning. 



This all-important factor in making or marring the profits of an orchard 

 cannot be dealt with at any length in such an article as this. However, no 

 article bearing on unprofitable orchards would be complete without reference 

 to the common mistakes made and which cause so much profit-leakage in 

 many orchards. 



Young Trees. — Instead of cutting leading growths of young trees hard 

 back, some growers merely tip them ; the result is a weakly framework 

 which cannot bear the weight of fruit after the tree has come into bearing, 

 the limbs often break off, and irreparable injury is done. Young trees 

 should be hard cut back for a few years, in order to form a strong frame- 

 work capable of bearing heavy crops. 



Leaders. — Frequently the leading growths are improperly placed, and 

 too manv allowed to remain. The leaders should be spaced as equi-distant 

 as possible and rise obliquely at an angle of about 45 deg ; generally 

 speaking, about 12-16 leaders are sufficient. 



Laterals. — A thorough knowledge of the fruiting habits of different 

 kinds and varieties is essential to successful pruning. A good general 

 policy is to spare the knife on all well-placed light lateral growths. If 

 allowed to remain for a season to ripen and develop fruit buds, they can 

 then be shortened in as required. Especially does this apply to such 

 varieties of apples as Jonathan and Rome Beauty. Many instances are 

 met with where these splendid varieties have been made barren, or partly 

 so, by the improper use of the secateur on laterals. A good plan is to 

 observe carefully the result of last season's cuts. By this means a mistake 

 should be made only once — -not repeated. 



Pruning the Peach. — Many peach orchards are silent witnesses to 

 improper pruning methods. The light wood growth of the tree is often 

 merely a tangled mass at ends of leading shoots, instead of being well regu- 

 lated and placed in the most suitable positions. 



As a result of such management, or lack of management, fruit of an 

 uncertain quantity and quality is produced. 



The peach bears its fruit on new growth, and only once on the same 

 spur. Thus a regular supply of well-placed fruiting wood is essential. 

 This caiTi be obtained and maintained by the judicious use of the secateur — 

 only possible when there is a thorough knowledge of the different kinds of 

 buds and growth. 



In pruning the peach, care must be taken to supply wood-growth for 

 the succeeding year's crop as well as the regulation of spurs for the 

 development of large fruit during the year the pruning is carried out. All 

 dead wood should be removed as well as the over-weakened laterals. Cuts 

 should be made clean to permit of free healing. 



Treatment of Insect and Fungu.s Pests. 

 This subject has been dealt with in the Journal from time to time, and 

 the Orchard Supervision Branch is always available to give instructions to 

 growers in this important detail of orchard work. 



