193 
Orchard Notes for August. 
By A. H. BENSON. 
Tu planting of all deciduous trees should be completed by the end of this 
month in all parts of the colony, but evergreen trees can be transplanted 
during seasonable moist weather at any time of the year if the operation is 
carefully carried out. When set out, the young trees must be cut hard back 
to a height that in no case should exceed 2 feet from the ground, and in warm 
dry districts half of this height is to be preferred. Cutting back at planting 
insures a strong and vigorous young growth, whereas by neglecting to 
cut back hard at planting the future growth, vigour, and symmetry of the 
tree are greatly impaired if not completely spoilt. The pruning of all 
deciduous trees must also have been completed; and all citrus fruit trees from 
which the fruits have or should have peen gathered should be gone over 
carefully, all dead and badly diseased wood should be removed, and any 
crossing or superfluous branches, or water sprouts, should be cut away. 
When the trees are badly attacked by scale this pruning should be severe, in 
order that the remedies used for dealing with these pests may have a fair 
chance, as when the top of a citrus'tree is allowed to grow like a mat it is 
impossible to get the spraying material used on to the parts where it is most 
wanted. Spraying should be systematically carried out in every orchard in 
the colony during this and the preceding month, and in the case of fungus 
diseases on deciduous trees during the following month as well. Spraying 
is just as essential an operation as the gathering of the fruit; and no fruit- 
grower who wishes to make fruit-growing a success can afford to neglect it, 
as it is impossible to breed disease in fruit trees and to grow fruit profitably 
at one and the same time. A. full description of the operation of spraying 
and of the most approved remedies was published some monthsago in pamphlet 
form by the Department of Agriculture, so that any grower who has not 
received a copy and who desires to obtain the necéssary information may 
obtain it by writing to the Department. After pruning and spraying, the 
orchard should be ploughed; so that ail weeds and trash can be buried, and 
also that the land that has been trodden down firm shall be broken up. Use 
a short American plough that will take a wide furrow and turn it right over. 
The depth at which to plough will depend on the treatment the orchard has 
previously received and on the nature of the soil. If the soil is shallow, or if 
the land has never been worked, then the ploughing must be shallow or the 
roots will be badly injured; but where there is plenty of soil and a perfect 
sub-drainage, then the ploughing can be from 4 to 6 inches in depth (provided 
the land has been previously cultivated) without any injury to the trees. In 
fact, in such soils surface roots are not required, and the trees stand dry 
weather best when deeply rooted. Grape vines attacked with black spot, 
where they have not been dressed with sulphate of iron previously, should be 
treated during the earlier part of the month; and this treatment should be 
followed in the earlier parts of the colony with a spray of Bordeaux mixture 
towards the end of the month or just before the buds burst into leaf. 
Quick-acting artificial manures, such as sulphate of ammonia, sulphate of 
potash, or superphosphate, can be applied during the month, but care should 
be taken not to apply too large a quantity at once, as owing to their extreme 
solubility a considerable portion of themis apt to be washed out and lost by 
heayy rains. In conclusion, one more word about spraying, and that is: Do your 
