636 



THE GARDEN AND FIELD. 



July, 1913 



the time to apply is just as llie 

 buds are showinjj colour. 



The cost of spra\ iug j.s i)ractical- 

 1\- covered bv a few fruits saved 

 per tree, yet bv doing so a full 

 crop has often been harvested, 75 

 per .cent, of which would other .vise 

 have been lost. 



Lime-.siilphur is a valuable re- 

 ined v for many insect pests, it is 

 also of some and often considerable 

 value as a funjjicide. It possesses 

 some objectionable features in its 

 corrosive effect \ipon any iron or 

 steel on pumps and harness, and 

 in its caustic effects on exposed 

 parts of the body. These m.ay be 

 somewhat obviate<l bv jjreasing the 

 metal and by rubbing the hands 

 and face with olive oil or vaseline 

 prior to spraying. Horses, oi 

 course, are also sensitive to its 

 action and if iised, should be given 

 some covering. 

 / 



Before spraying w^ith oil emul- 

 sions or lime sulphur, all rough 

 bark on apple and pear trees 

 should be scraped oft ; this will 

 mean the certain destruction of 

 any codlin moth larvae which may 

 be hidden beneath. 



Pruning. 



The object and aims of pruning- are 

 to , maintain a moderately good 

 growth in the tree, and at the same 

 time produce good crops of market- 

 able fruit. Trees that are not pruned 

 will only produce good fruit in the 

 earlier stages of their growth, while 

 the tree is small and unprofitable; 

 hence, the object of pruning is to 

 maintain an equal balance between 

 the growth and fruit-bearing qualities 

 of the tree. A one year old tree just 

 planted should have the leading shoot 

 cut back to about 15 in. from the 

 ground. This will form the future 

 stem of the tree, and in the spring 

 when the buds begin to shoot, leave 

 the three top buds, and rub off all the 

 buds below. These three buds will 

 form the foundation of the tree and 

 should be allowed to grow unchecked 

 throughout the summer. During the 

 following winter these shoots should 

 be shortened back; cut off say two- 

 thirds of their growth, always cutting 

 back to an outside bud. In the next 

 spring two shoots may be allowed to 

 grow from each branch; this treat- 

 ment will give six branches, and these 

 will form the main branches of the 

 tree. To form a well balanced head 

 the branches should be spaced as 

 nearly as possible at equal distances 

 from each other. 



During the future growth of the 

 tree, additional branches may be left 

 as required, taking care that they are 

 not overcrowded. Lateral branches 

 will make their appearance during the 

 third and fourth years. Those grow- 

 ing inside should be well thinned out, 

 leaving a few only to fill up the body 

 of the tree, whilst of those growing 

 outwards the strongest may be re- 

 tained where required to further ex- 

 tend the tree. The leading shoots will 

 also require shortening back, leaving 

 the strongest shoots longest, and cut- 

 ting the weaker shoots back a little 

 shorter. Where a branch makes a 

 strong growth and takes a decided 

 lead from the others, it should be 

 pinched back in the early summer. 

 This will check the growth, and allow 

 the weaker branches to grow more 

 vigorously. 



Where trees are growing in an ex- 

 posed situation the prevailing winds 

 should be taken into consideration 

 when pruning, otherwise they will be 

 blown all to one particular side. The 

 pruner should counteract this as much 

 as possible by pruning to an outside 

 bud on the windy side, and an inside 

 bud on the sheltered side. 



Many \arieties of apples and pears 

 form natural fruit spurs without any 

 trouble; others again, such as Jona- 

 than and Eome Beauty, grow to later- 

 als. This is the point where many 

 pruners fail. They cut off all the la- 



A BOON TO ORCHARDISTS! 



NO MORE BROKEN BRflNeHES-BflRKEO TREES. 



Trace Chains and Spreaders done away 

 with. 



You cannot afford to be without it. 



Price — Single Set, £2 17s. 6d. 



Comprising Steel Breechen Drawbar, 

 Traces and Spider. 



Draw Chaini, 2s. 6d. extra 



HOLDEN & FROST, 



Saddlers & Harnesa Makera, 

 GRBNPELL STREET, ADELAIDE. 



