ORCHARD SPRAYING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2573, 6 August 1909, Page 2

ORCHARD SPRAYING.

, : ' ; DEMONSTRATION BY MR W. A. BOUCHER. That fruit-growing is an interesting subject to the residents of Poverty Bay Wiis evidenced yesterday afternoon when a crowd of over one hundred orcliardists, fruit growers, and business people who have small gardens, attended at Mr Francis’ orchard, Wliataupoko, to witness a demonstration by Mr VV. A. Boucher, Government pomo- ' logist for the INortli Island. Mr Boucher was assisted in the demonstration by Mr. Esani, Inspector of Orchards. * 'ldio demonstration was most interesting and instructive, and instead of giving an address Mr Boucher wisely exp.amed each operation, and the advantages of using the sprays recommended by the Agricultural Department. The first spray shown was that known as the lime, salt and sulphur spray for the destruction of mussel scale on deciduous trees. The proportions of the ingredients being quickline 401 b, salt 151 b, sulphur 20lb, water 60 gallons, and the method of preparation is to first boil 201 b lime and 201 b sulphur in 20 gallons of water until both lime and sulphur are dissolved. This will require about one hour. When sufficiently done, the mixture will be of. an amber color. Be Careful to use-an iron boiler, as this preparation will destroy any vessel or spray-pump made’ of copper. The remainder of the lime should then be slaked in a barrel with hot water. Add the salt and stir briskly. Mix the two lots together with enough water to make 60 gallons, and apply hot if possible, using a good pump, and taking special care to cover the young wood. Mr Boucher explained that the best results were derived by spraying just before the buds begin to swell. As the liquid was very corrosive, a cupshaped piece of metal should be attached to the director a few inches below the nozzle. That w'ould, in a measure, check the material from running down to the hands. Well-greased leather gloves should be used, or else the hands should be protected by being well greased. This wash could not be too highly recommended for winter use on all deciduous fruit trees. It cleanses the trees from the growth of moss and lichen, destroys insects harbouring therein, and was an effective and cheap application. Mr Boucher explained that other sprays had been tested by the Department, but none had been found so effective as the one recommended, as it was an insoluble corrosive spray, its corrosive effects lasted well on to November; it was cheap and only required to be applied once a year, the best results being obtained if the application is made at the time when the buds are beginning to swell. The reason for this is that the eggs of the scale are not destroyed by the spray as many are inclined to think. As a matter of fact, the young scale hatch out in due course, but the trees being covered with a compound of a caustic nature, which rainfall or night dew will again set up, even if the young scale succeed in .settling down upon the young hark, they are destroyed by this action. From winter spraying the best results are invariably obtained by leaving the application of either the lime, salt, and sulphur or the Bordeaux mixture until the buds begin to swell. The next spray shown was the Bordeaux mixture compound of bluestonir (copper sulphate) 41 bs, fresh roche lime: (burnt rock lime) slbs, and 50 gallons of water. Half the water should bo used to slack the burn, and half to dissolve the biuestone, the lime water should then be strained into the bluestone solution the spray applied when the buds are swelling, August being a suitable month. This spray was recommended for apple scale and leaf curl, as it was Insoluble, effective, and "was not w r ashed off the trees by rain once it had been allowed to dry on. The spray, the officer explained, was highly suitable for peach, nectarine, and apricot trees, and it was important that it should be spread well over the branches, especially the young shoots at the time when the buds were swelling. Mr Boucher then showed those present how to prepare Swift’s arsenate of lead spray, the directions for which are :l)lbs of Swift’s arsenate of lead to 50 gallons of water, the spray to be applied when' the fruit had formed, and continued from 15 to 17 days to destroy codlin moth. The blossoms, Mr Boucher added, should not be spra... ed as the arsenate of lead might destroy the fertility of the blossoms. Spraying for codlin moth should commence as soon as the fruit has set, in order to introduce some of the poison into the calyx before it closes,' as that was the point at which the moth usually sought an entrance. In commenting upon the effectiveness of this spray as a preventative against codlin moth Mr Boucher read the following letter from Mr R. Badger, chairman of the Tauranga Fruitgrowers’ Association, who states: ‘During the last season I was induced to spray with Swift’s arsenate of lead for the eradication of codlin moth, and I am pleased to state that the results far exceed my most sanguine expectations. Wo commenced spraying immediately the fruit was set, and continued at intervals of'ls days until February 29', when we sprayed for the last time. We adhered to the Government formula: 1-Jlbs of lead to 50 gallons of water, giving the trees a thorough soaking at each dressing. We have now practically finished picking fruit, having gathered some tons of apples and pears, and have not seen a single fruit affected with the moth. These operations wore carried out in an old orchard, which the previous season had not more than 5 per- cent, of clean fruit. Several of my neighbors have like results.’ Mr Boucher recommended the use of a portable spray can and what was known as a bucket hand spray. About half a dozen trees were sprayed, and those present were shown how to coyer all the young shoots and branches with the various mixtures. - f Mr Boucher was questioned upon the value of various sprays put upon the market by traders, but explained that the Department had tested many sprays and found those recommended above to he the best for the various pests found

. i ; ——~ /. r - . in orchards. He could not in any way recommend of- countenance the use of what were known as patent sprays, although one or -twossprays put on the market by -private firms were being experimented with on the Government farms. MR. BOUCHER INTERVIEWED. “Until you have a deep water wharf I cannot hope for much improvement in the fruit-growing industry of Poverty Bay,” said Mr. Boucher, speaking to a “Times” representative last evening. “The district is an excep-, tionally fine one for fruit growing, but the difficulties -of transit are too great and the freights are too high to enable the industry to go ahead, but at some future date, when you get such a wharf, then you will see a groat change.” Asked as to the classes or fruit most suitable for the district, Mr Boucher expressed the opinion that the district could hardly be surpassed for apricot growing, although the same difficulty as to getting the fruit away to market exists as with other fruits, although tho demand for apricots, especially in Auckland, is very great, and that class of fruit can, more than any other class, stand the heavy freight charges. For many years, Mr. Boucher says, the Auckland supply of apricots was obtained from growers in the Thames, hut of late years this supply has not been forthcoming, and large quantities have been imported from Gisborne. A most interesting point mentioned by Mr. Boucher was that in relation' to tho few districts where apricot growing is really successful. The officers of the Department have not hitherto been able to ascertain how it is that apricots will grow so well in one place and so poorly in another. Various reasons have been assigned, such as the quantity of lime in tho ground, and also the salt derived by tho trees from proximity to the ocean, but the fact remains tliat in one district they will thrive admirably, while in another the crons, if any, will be useless, and ? lie reason why has not been discovered, although numerous experiments have been made in order to find out. Mr. Boucher does not recommend the planting of plum trees, especially from a commercial point of view,, as tho crop i.tf so uncertain. As he tersely put it, “one year you will have a glut, and cannot give them away ; while at any time the demand for them is not so great as for other kinds of fruit.” ’ “On the other hand,” conrinued Mr. Boucher, “good average crops and good returns may be expected from apples, pears, and poaches,, but I do not advise any one to go in for plums.” Mention was made of a canning factory in Gisborne and its probable effect on the fruit industry here. Mr Boucher is of -opinion that tho establishment of such a factory would be of immense, benefit to the local fruit growing industry, as with the export of canned fruit the trouble caused through handling in tho lighters would disappear, the fruit would ho in its most concentrated form, and the freight rates would he considerably lower. The greatest difficulty would be in getting a sufficient number of growers to go in for the scheme, hut if they would, lie Thought tho idea an excellent one. On the all-important subject, of spraying, Mr. Boucher vstated that the chief trouble was found with the man who had “one tree in,, his back yard,” . although it was surprising to him to notice "how rapidly growers were com- ; mg into line, especially in view of the many adverse opinions which had been expressed when the Act came into force. The reason for this improvement, he thinks, is to be found in the fact that growers generally aro taking a more intelligent interest in their orchards, and that fruit and the growing of it appeals directly to almost everyone. There are, however, some whostill are not doing all they should do, and Mr. Boucher, in conclusion, sounded a note of friendly warning to the fruit growers of the district. He assured the pressman that the Department intends to pay particular attention to Poverty Bay in regard to the enforcing of the provisions of the Act, and stated that in the event of growers failing in tlioir duty, prosecutions wi 11 follow. Mr. Boucher visits a number of the orchards in the surrounding country district to-day, and returns to Auckland to-morrow morning, afterwards proceeding to Tauranga, where he will spend some time.