ORCHARD NOTES.

Conducted monthly by R. S. MACKINTOSH, Horticulturist, Extension Division, University Farm, St. Paul.

Minnesota orchardists are preparing for a full crop of apples this year.  From the experiences of last year with apple scab and codling moth, more thorough spraying is to be done.  Senator Dunlap stated an experience he had in spraying that should be carefully considered by all apple men.  Nine rows of trees were sprayed on Monday or Tuesday.  Owing to bad weather the other rows could not be sprayed until Friday or Saturday.  What was the result?  He had 175 barrels of No. 1 fruit from first part and only seventeen barrels of No. 2 in rows sprayed later.  Some are planning their orchard work for the season along the following lines: 

First:  Pruning. To be done during the mild weather in March and April.  Thin out all dead wood, interlocking branches, water-sprouts and shorten others.  Pruning is to get the tree into better form to sustain a large load of fruit, to open the center to permit sunlight to get in to color fruit, and to permit of better spraying.  There are too many trees in Minnesota that have never been touched by knife or saw.  Such trees need attention, but the pruning should not be too severe at any one time.  Begin this year to do a little pruning; next year do more; the year after a little more; and after that very little attention will be needed to keep the tree in good condition.

While pruning look out for rabbit and mouse injury.  If good trees have been injured do some bridge grafting as soon as you can.  This means connecting the healthy bark above the wound with the healthy bark below.  Small twigs cut from the same tree, that are long enough to span the wound, are cut wedge shaped on both ends, and these ends put under the healthy bark.  If possible cover the wounded area with earth.  If too high up tie the scions in place and cover all cut surfaces with grafting wax and cloth.  Several scions should be put in if the tree is large.

Second:  Spraying. Three sprayings are needed on every bearing apple tree in Minnesota.

First spray:  When the center of buds show pink.  Don’t wait too long.

Second spray:  When the petals have fallen.

Third spray:  Ten to fifteen days after the second.

Use lime-sulphur and arsenate of lead each time.  It is important to do this at the right time, in the right way, and with the right materials.  Right is the word and not left-undone.  Further particulars will be found on the page devoted to spraying topics.

Third:  Cultivation. Follow the plan that is best suited to location.  This may mean sod, part sod and cultivation, cultivation and mulch, mulch only, or cultivation and cover crop.  Doubtless the last is the best in most instances.

Fourth:  Thinning. The thinning of apples in Minnesota has not been received with as much consideration as its importance demands.  More attention will be given to this topic in subsequent issues.