156 QUEENSLAND. AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Hep., 19%) ; 
Orchard Notes for February. 
By ALBERT H. BENSON. 
Durre this month there is no great output of Queensland-grown fruit, hol 
there will still be a few pines and mangoes to market on the coast and gM) 
from the Downs and Roma districts also, as well as European plums, P& | 
apples, quinces, peaches, &c., from the Downs, especially the Stanthorpe disttt 
Growers should take every care to send nothing to market unless it is soun’ il 
diseased fruit is unsaleable, and its presence prevents the sale of sound 10 
fruit. Large plums, such as the Yellow Magnum Bonum and Pond’s Seed 
which do well in the colder districts, will pay for extra care in honda ; 
packing, and the same applies to good peaches or pears. The plums shoul 
pareraiia packed in shallow boxes, but the peaches should be wrapped in # 
paper and packed in single layers in trays fitting into well-ventilated crates 
that they can reach the market with the bloom on and without being bru 
For sound fruit in this condition there is a good sale, and it will pay growet™ |} 
put such fruit on the market in the best manner possible. Chip baskets hold! 
about 5 Ib., and fitting into crates, are also excellent for marketing high 
plums or firm-fleshed peaches, but soft-fleshed peaches that bruise readily ™) 
best ye and packed in single layers in trays. mn | 
As the month is usually a more or less wet one, the cultivation of ‘tl | 
Orchard is apt to become somewhat neglected, owing to the impossibility) 
getting horses on to the land and to the rapid growth made by weeds %" | 
kinds. || 
However, when the land is dry enough, cultivators fitted with su™ 
knives should be used to cut down the weeds, and when such are too str 
to be treated in this manner they should be mown down before they m*¥ | 
their seeds, and the trash buried by a shallow ploughing. In the drier dis0™ 
however, the cultivator should be kept going to retain the moisture in the ™ 
especially after a rain, when the sooner the surface can be stirred after the! 
stops the more moisture will be retained. Where needing it, citrus Al 
should receive an irrigation during the month—not a mere sprinkling, bu atl 
thorough soaking—as it is much better to give the trees a good wateriNs 5 4 
to be done with it than to be continually applying small quantities. surf | 
waterings induce the growth of surface roots, and this is a drawback ™ 
dry districts. : al! 
Seale insects of all sorts attacking citrus or other evergreen trees sho ‘i 
be systematically fought during the month by spraying or fumigation; | 
where spraying is used, it is advisable to use a poisonous spray that will de 
scale and leaf-eating insects at the same time. Pa | 
The planting out of all tropical and semi-tropical fruits can be conW 
throughout the month during suitable weather—viz., dull or showery 
Mango seeds should be planted either in nursery or, where possible, wher, 
tree is to be permanently located. Plant the seeds as soon as they are ih 
from the fruit, as if exposed to the air they rapidly dry out and lose ie 
vitality. Don’t plant seeds of any mangoes unless they are of extra 4 
and good bearers. There is far too much rubbish propagated for which 
is no sale now; so if we don’t want to increase this, only selected seeds ° 
best varieties should be planted. df 
Budding can be continued during the month, and the nursery will ¢ 
constant care to keep it free from weeds, to sce that all ties are cut, and, Waa 
necessary, that the buds are properly started and tied up, as, unless the 
tree is properly started and trained to a single straight stem in the DUM i. 
the grower has a difficult job to get it to grow into a decent tree whe?” | 
permanently planted out. ae 
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