Leaf scorch of apple trees

BEFORE the 1964-65 fruit season, sections of a number of orchards in the Donnybrook district were converted to systems of permanent overhead sprinkler irrigation. In several cases, however, leaf scorch occurred where these overhead sprinklers were used during the day time

Control of summer weeds around apple trees

THE application of residual herbicides around the butts of irrigated apple trees early in summer has given good control of summer-growing weeds in recent experiments, as well as in a number of commercial orchards

Contour planting for hillside orchards. Part 1

FRUIT growers intending to plant an orchard on sloping land, would be well advised to consider the suitability of the block for planting on a contour system

Cross pollination in apple orchards

ONE of the main aims of the successful apple grower is to reduce seasonal variations in cropping. With this in view it has become apparent that provision for adequate cross pollination can be important in certain seasons, especially with Granny Smiths, if full advantage is to be taken of chemical thinning and other improved methods of orchard management

The vital role of bees in apple pollination

THE vital role the honey bee plays in pollinating apples is often overlooked. Bees are the most important agents for cross pollination in apples and other fruit trees

Modern methods boost apple production in a south-west orchard

A WELL-KNOWN South-West apple orchard with an impressive cropping record is owned by W. F. & E. M. Dilley and Sons, of Upper Capel, near Donnybrook. Trees in this orchard have been producing consistently heavy crops for many years and, furthermore, yields have increased steadily over a 10-year period

Fertiliser responses with newly planted apple trees

AN outstanding response to phosphate and a worthwhile response to nitrogen have been obtained in the Donnybrook area on a new orchard site on the property of Mr. A. Cross of Argyle

An estimate of the uptake of atmospheric methyl bromide by agricultural soils

Published estimates of removal of atmospheric methyl bromide (CH3Br) by agricultural soils are 2.7 Gg yr−1 (Gg = 109 g) [Shorter et al., 1995] and 65.8 Gg yr−1 [Serça et al., 1998]. The Serça et al. estimate, if correct, would suggest that the current value for total removal of atmospheric CH3Br by all sinks of 206 Gg yr−1 (based on Shorter et al., 1995) would be 30% too low. We have calculated a new rate of global agricultural soil uptake of atmospheric CH3Br from a larger sampling of cultivated soils collected from 40 sites located in the United States, Costa Rica, and Germany. First order reaction rates were measured during static laboratory incubations. These data were combined with uptake measurements we reported earlier based on field and laboratory experiments [Shorter et al. 1995]. Tropical (10.2°–10.4°N) and northern (45°–61°N) soils averaged lower reaction rate constants than temperate soils probably due to differing physical and chemical characteristics as well as microbial populations. Our revised global estimate for the uptake of ambient CH3Br by cultivated soils is 7.47±0.63 Gg yr−1, almost three times the value that we reported in 1995

The value of alar sprays for apples

ALAR* is a growth retardant which has been die subject of intensive research in other countries. It tends to slow both fruit growth and ripening and to reduce shoot extension. Overseas and local investigations with apples have shown that Alar will reduce preharvest drop, restrict shoot growth and increase flower bud formation for the following season