The One-Straw Revolution - Multiworld India

eneath the resprouted forest trees, there was no evidence of damaginginsects such as the common arrowhead scale. Once the thicket andresprouted trees were cut away, the land became less wild and more likean orchard. Only then did these insects appear.To allow a fruit tree to follow its natural form from the beginning isbest. The tree will bear fruit every year and there is no need to prune. Acitrus tree follows the same pattern of growth as a cedar or pine, that is, asingle central trunk growing straight with branches spreading outalternately Of course all varieties of citrus do not grow to exactly thesame size and shape. The Hassaku and Shaddock varieties grow very tall,winter Unshu mandarin orange trees are short and stocky, the earlyvarieties of Satsuma mandarin orange trees are small at maturity, buteach has a single central trunk.Do Not Kill the Natural PredatorsI think that everyone knows that since the most common orchard"pests," ruby scale and horned wax scale, have natural enemies, there isno need to apply insecticide to keep them under control. At one time theinsecticide Fusol was used in Japan. The natural predators werecompletely exterminated, and the resulting problems still survive inmany prefectures. From this experience I think most farmers have cometo realize that it is undesirable to eliminate predators because in the longrun greater insect damage will result.As for the mites and scales which do appear, if a solution of machineoil, a chemical relatively harmless to the predators, is diluted 200 to 400times and is sprayed lightly in midsummer, and the insect communitiesare left to achieve their natural balance after59