M»y, 1914 



THK nARDRN AND FIELD. 



543 



@ Frtsit Oarden & 



Notes for May. 



Though the past sunimer has n"i 

 l)oen particularly hot if has been a 

 trying one for fruit trees which are 

 not under irrigation, because tlu-y 

 started the season with smaller re- 

 serves of moisture in the soil than 

 is usually the case. In suburl)an 

 gardens also many trees whicli in 

 normal seasons are very heavily 

 watered throughout the summer ha\ c 

 had their supplies curtailed during 

 the last few months. 



CURLEW BRANDY. 



For y«ara the Only Brandy used 

 in the Adelaide Hospital. 



Sole Ag<entt — 



DOWNER A 00. 



Wine and Spirit Merohanti and 

 Aerated Water Manufacturers. 



43 WAYIMOITTH ST., CITY. 



The showers we have had lately 

 iiave been of little service, so every 

 preparation must be made for mak- 

 ing' the most of rain when it does 

 come. Keep the surface of the fruit 

 garden rough and open so that every 

 drop may get into the ground and 

 not be allowed to run to waste as is 

 often the case with the first rains. It 

 is especially important to ha\'e land 

 which is to be planted this season in 

 good condition to benefit by the rain, 

 which we all hope will not be long 

 delayed. It should be ploughed 

 deeply and left in the rough except 

 in such positions where there is a 

 danger of soil washing away under 

 heavy rain. Such positions arc how- 

 ever exceptional. 



The season for winter pruning of 

 deciduous may be said to commence 

 this month, though there is usually a 

 fair amount of foliage still on the 

 trees. In most cases it has fulfilled 

 its functions and no harm will be 

 done by making a beginning. There 

 is little apparently to be gained by 

 rushing- the work and as a touch of 

 frost followed by a high wind will 

 practically strip the trees and make_ 

 the work much easier it may well be 

 left till then. Almonds may be be- 

 gun first followed by apricots and 

 peaches, except those known to drop 

 their fruit buds, which should be left 

 till later. Except when grown com- 

 mercially almonds are comparatively 

 rarely pruned. Many of the trees in 

 suljurba-H- gardens are almost beyond 

 pruning, but with young trees it is 

 possible and profitable to keep them 

 low and force the growth of fruiting 

 wood each season. 



\Vhen pruning, wood if required for 

 grafting may be selected and merely 

 heeled in till wanted. It should of 

 course be chosen from healthy well- 

 ,grown trees which are proved .good 

 croppers. The safe plan is to burn 

 all prunings as soon as possiljle, 

 though few people do it in small gar- 

 dens as this waste wood when dried 

 is useful for kindling and for small 

 stakes, etc., but there is certainly a 

 danger of insect and fungus life to 

 be carried over and again distriouted 

 in spring. A little apparently saved 

 may mean considerable annoyance 

 later on. Where citrus trees are to 

 be planted this autumn they should 

 be got in without any delay or left 



till spring. Where the ground has 

 been well prepared the former is the 

 better course, l)ut thorougii prepara- 

 tion even if it means waiting till Sep- 

 tember is preferable to planting in 

 badly worked ground. Do not plant 

 too deeply and plant carefully. It is 

 certainly wise to have as little delay 

 as possible lietween the nursery bed 

 and the orchard. 



June is probably the most popular 

 month for planting deciduous fruit 

 trees, but there is no particular reason 

 for waiting till then. The state of 

 the land to be planted rather than 

 the calender is the better guide. Be- 

 fore planting the area should be thor- 

 oughly cleared, well fenced and well 

 worketl. Lay out the orchard 

 properly, give the trees plenty of 

 room so that there will be a sufficient 

 area from which they will draw mois- 

 ture to keep them in good growing 

 conditions during dry years. Ascer- 

 tain the varieties of fruit which find 

 most favour on the markets, then 

 select such kinds as will thrive best 

 in your soil, situation and climate. 

 Plant the trees with some brains and 

 there should not be much disappoint- 

 ment ahead though there will be a 

 good deal of work. 



The present is a. good time to see 

 to any repairs which may be neces- 

 sary, fences, gates, etc., clean out 

 drains, gutters, etc. If the land or 

 any portion of it is sour do not for- 

 get that lime is the best corrective. 

 If any trees are lagging behind the 

 others they will be benefitted by any 

 stable manure which is available. 

 All scrapings from drains, gutters, 

 dams' etc., should be scattered over 

 the orchard and any rotted vegetable 

 matter of whatever description. 



Wherever it is necessary to en- 

 close an orchard with wirenetting. it 

 is best to use a good wide netting, 

 with small mesh at the bottom, as it 

 is wonderful through what a small 

 mesh a youn,g rabbit will get, as well 

 as how high a fence he will scale. 

 Therefore, if the orchardist wishes to 

 preserve his trees from the attacks of 

 these pests, he must see that the 

 orchard is securely fenced before 

 planting. 



The present is the time when 

 manuring the orchard, except in the 

 jpase of quick acting artificial fer- 

 tilizers should be undertaken, but it 

 is far more important, unless ^he 

 need for feeding be very apparent, 

 that the soil be placed in a perfect 



