6 
lichenic growths, to which these trees are 
often subject in damp situations. Land intended 
for grape vines should be broken up at once to 
secure the advantage of early rains, as, with all 
other deciduous plants, vines should be planted, 
if weather permits, as soon after the foliage has 
fallen as possible. Ground should be made 
ready for strawberry planting during the month, 
heavy manuring and deep digging being the 
most important features of this operation. For 
bush fruit the ground is prepared in much the 
same way if heavy crops are desired Currants, 
gooseberries, and raspberries require the same 
treatment, viz., heavy manuring and deep digging, 
and this work should be performed during the 
next few weeks. Established plantations of 
these fruits should be manured and dug towards 
the end of the month. They should be mulched 
with stable manure immediately after. 
Orchard Notes. 
‘BY W. J. ALLEN, 
On account of the rather backward season, 
apples which usually ripe : nd are fit to pull by 
the middle of Febru:ty are just .eady to pick, 
In picking and storing the fruit, the utmost 
care should be taken in handling so as to avoid 
bruising it, else it ernnot be expected to keep. 
lf intended for export the fruit should be 
picked on cool days and not all wed to stand in 
the sun, but should be kept in the shade of the 
tree until it is carted to the packing house, and 
here also it should be kept as cool as possible 
from the time it is taken from the tree until it 
reaches the consumer. Never by any chance 
should it be allowed to stand in the blazing sun 
at any time, nor to be over-ripe before being 
picked. 
Generally when the seeds are well-coloured 
it is ready to pick, and if properly stored will 
keep without shrivelling—that is, if they are 
keeping varieties. Apples keep best in cold 
storage at a temperature of 32 degrees Fahren- 
heit. 
Green Manuring—During this month black 
tares, gray field peas, or any other crop intended 
for green manure should be sown among the 
orchard trees. The earlier they are put in the 
better are the chances fora good crop, as it must 
be borne in mind that such a crop has to be 
ploughed under early in the spring in order that 
it may be well rotted before the dry weather 
sets in, also to prevent it absorbing moisture 
which should be conserved for the use of the 
tree. In sowing this crop it always pays to sow 
with it about 80 1b of superphosphates when the 
soil is in fair condition, but where the soil is 
poor more than the quantity should be used. If 
any doubt should exist in the minds of growers 
as to whether or not it pays to apply manures 
to land sown to green crops, let such experi- 
ment by omitting the manurefrom an occasional 
row, and the results will be so convincing that 
for the future no doubt will exist as to whether 
or not manure should be applied with the crops. 
Red and other Scales on Citrus Trees.- If it 
is found that citrus trees are infested with scales 
they should be fumigated as early as possible in 
order to cleanse the trees and fruit. The work 
should be done on a cool or cloudy day or at 
night time. Avoid treating trees on hot days or 
in wet weather, and do not fumigate them if 
they haye been sprayed with Bordeaux mix- 
ture at any time during the spring or summer, 
or the effect will be very disastrous to the trees. 
If the grower is not in a position to fumigate, 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
the spray pump should be brought into requisi- 
tion, and the trees given two or threo applica- 
tions of resin, soda and fish soil, or some other 
well known remedy which can be applied at a 
reasonable cost. ‘here is usually a good export 
market to be found in other States for clean, 
well-developed fruit, but they do not require 
any of our dirty inferior products. 
At no time in the year can the results of 
different methods of pruning be seen so well as 
when the fruit is ripening, when each variety 
should be closely watcned, and such notes taken 
thereon as will serve as a guide for the following 
year’s pruning. It is always well to bear in 
mind that trees or vines must not be overloaded 
if they are expected to return regular crops of 
high standard fruits, which quality alone will 
always command the highest prices* on the 
market and best repay the grower, whilst taking 
the least out of the trees or vines. 
The orch rdist or farmer who intends plant- 
ing a new orchard or extending those already 
established, should see that the land is prepar. d 
for the reception of the trees as soon as p-ssible, 
as it is well to have the land well broken up so 
that it may be exposed to the air and weather 
for some time prior to planting. The application 
of from half to one ton of lime to the acre would 
materially improve its condition, particularly 
on sour country, and the grower would find 
himself well recouped for the outlay by the 
extra growth which the trees would make. 
The drying of apples, raisin grapes, sultanas 
and prunes will, where these fruits are being 
grown, occupy the attention of the orchardist. 
After ‘the apples are peeled and sliced they 
should be immersed for five minutes in a brine 
made as follows—Dissolve 1 oz of salt and dilute 
with 2 quarts of water, then spread the fruit 
on trays and place in the sun or evaporator to 
dry. The prune and Gordo-Blanco grapes are, 
when ripe, immersed in a lye made as follows-- 
Dissolve by boiling 1 Jb of caustic soda in from 
8 to 10 gallons of watér, and iv this dip the 
fruit for about one or two seconds, or just long 
enough to make minute cracks in the skins 
when the solution is just on the boil. 
In some districts the skins will be found 
tougher than in others, and therefore it will be 
necessary to test the fruit to find out for what 
length of time it will need to be immersed in 
order to slightly crack the skins. Over-dipping 
must be avoided, else the fruit when dried will 
be ragged, and in consequence will be classed as 
inferior. 
Before packing prunes they should be dipped 
in hot water for at least five minutes; then put 
out in the sun to dry thoroughly before packing 
in boxes r, 
Those who are most successful in fruit grow- 
ing have found that they have had to combine a 
thorough system of cultivation with proper 
pruning and judicious manuring to attain these 
results. There is a time when each of these 
several branches of the work should be done, 
and by neglecting to properly attend to any one 
of them certain loss to the grower will inevit- 
aply follow. 
Codlin moth-should still be watched most 
carefully, and all grubs killed which have found 
shelter in the bandages. Also all fallen fruits 
should be picked up and destroyed. 
Gack Paines 
_..Hairdresser and Tobacconist... 
UNLEY ROAD 
A CHOICE STOCK OF 
CIGARS, CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO 
To Select from. 
Aprin 15, 1906 
Pie Lssay 
OF THE 
Burnley School of Horticulture 
BY E. M. ROLLAND. 
Subject: ‘‘The Most Common Causes of 
Irregular Bearing and Imperfect De- 
velopment of Tree Fruits and their 
Remedies.” 
No. Il. 
. When a Tree should Bear. 
THe ages and conditions under which trees 
bear have great influence on their regular bear- 
ing capacities. The maturity of the tree, not so 
much its age, decides the time of its bearing. 
In a very suitable position the tree might be 
allowed to bear in three years, whereas the same 
kind of tree in an unfavorable position might 
not be mature for ten years. Pears, under favor- 
able conditions, may be fruited on an average of 
three years, and remain regular in bearing. In 
poor soils they would need five years. 
Apples, plums, and cherries can be dealt 
with in the same way. 
With peaches, a strong tree must be secured 
before allowing it to fruit; perhaps three years 
would be long enough in the hot north, where it 
is at home, but in the south and colder climates 
not before itis five years old. 
The age is the same for apricots. 
Lemons differ, for wherever they grow freely 
they may be allowed to fruit. 
The Need of Light. 
“ Blindness’ is frequently the result of bad 
pruning or insufficient trimming out. The sap 
runs to the highest and strongest point first, so 
that the heaviest shoots are found naturally at 
the top of the tree. These, if they are not taken 
away, forma kind of hood, preventing air and 
light entering the centre, to the detriment of 
the inside branches. It is quite common to 
find unripe wood inside, and consequent fruit- 
lessness or blindness. Each branch should have 
sufficient room to throw out its fruiting shoots 
and spurs without cramping the next, The 
main branches should be at least 2 feet apart, 
if there are fruiting shoots. Where there are 
only fruiting spurs they could te closer, If the 
shoots at the top of the brauches are not re- 
moved, the consequence will be that all the sap 
sent up by the roots will remain there, and the 
lower part of the tree being unnourished will 
remain quite bare, and will be so much space 
wasted, By thinning out of too crowled wood 
and by keeping the top of the tree light the 
growth will be forced down below and the whole 
tree furnished with fruiting wood. 
“ Blindness” inay also be caused by the tree 
being either too strong or too weak, A strong 
tree may easily be made stronger by a wrong 
way of pruning. The bigger the wound the 
stronger will be the new growth. No heavy 
cutting back should be done on a strong tree, 
but the whole piece taken away. The fruiting 
wood will have to be some removes away from 
the trunk to get weak enough wood, as fruit is 
borne on a slow flow of ripened sap, and cannot 
be borne where the flow is strong. The branches 
should be encouraged to yrow in a horizontal 
position, for sap flows strongest along the most 
upright channels. In a strong tree the sap is so 
often unripe that only leaf buds are formed or 
such flower buds as are formed are pushed off, 
