August t, 1883. 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



91 



trable air-tight external covering, uuderneath wliich there 

 should be no plant or weed life. On the top it formed a 

 mass, 6 inches thick, and killed everything beneath. The 

 reason so many fail to kill weeds in this way is because 

 they cover with clay or .some other porous covering that 

 only acts as a " top-dressiug " for the weeds. I am this 

 year going to use gas lime I have got for the di-awing, 

 and will tell you the result by-and-bye. This is a matter . 

 of importance to every farmer and gardener in Great 

 Britain and Ireland. Recently a nurseryman told me half 

 his profits were consumed in trying to extirpate root weeds : 

 I proposed this plan of utilizing them in futm-e to bin. 

 — W. T. Mt-RPHV, Clonmel. — Gardeners' Chronicle. 



ANOTHER WEEVIL CUKE. 

 Attention has recently been drawn to the feasibility of 

 protecting grain and seeds from the attacks of weevil by 

 the use of vegetation, and it really appears as if we were 

 about to arrive at a practical solution of this question in 

 a simple way that will be within the reach of all. Wr. 

 luglis, to whom we were last year indebted for the Nilghtri 

 coffee seed which we distributed among our subscribers, and 

 some of which we have still on hand, has written a letter 

 pointing out the fact that the Hiiidoos, or coolies as they 

 are called here in our ignorant contempt of all dark-skin- 

 ned races, have a practice of effectually protecting their 

 products from weevil by the practice of placing leaves of 

 the Neem tree {Melici Imlica) amongst them. Since then 

 Mr. Yoelcker of Grafton has written to a southern paper 

 stating that the indigenous Neem-tree of AustraUa will 

 answer the same pm-pose. He states that he has had in 

 store a few bushels of wheat for nine months, in which 

 are intermi.ted leaves of the ildia A:uderack, which he 

 says grows freely in the neighbourhood of Grafton, and 

 which is entirely free from weevil. This Melia, Mr. Voelcker 

 states, to be commonly known as the white cedar, and it is 

 therefore likely to he the white ce lar of Queensland, Melia 

 Componia^ or a very similar variety ; hence, it appears that 

 the use of white cedar leaves will be the means of pro- 

 tecting grain, &c., from weevil. This tree, although not to 

 be fou:id everywhere, is yet by no means uncommon, and 

 we would strongly advise our farmers to test its properties 

 with their next crop of maize. In the meantime, it would 

 be well if an attempt were made at the propagation of 

 the Indian Neem in Queensland, as it appears to be a very 

 valuable tree. It is described by Gamble, in his "Indian 

 Timbers," as being used in the construction of carts, tor 

 ship building, maki.ig of agricultura' implements and furn- 

 itm-e. It is held sacred by the "indoos, and idols are 

 made of it. The bi;rk is bitter, and is used a.s a febrifuge. 

 The leaves are ma le into a poultice for ulcers. The gum 

 is clear, amber-coloiu-ed, and used as a .stimulant. The seeds 

 are employed to kill insects and for washing the hair. The 

 oil is used to burn and as a medicine. In the meantime, 

 it would be well to ascertain whether the white cetTiri an 

 almost identical tree, has n t similar pro]ierries. — I'hfuirr 

 and Fai^iei'. 



SULPHATE OF AMMONIA FOR VEGETABLES. 



A cU'essing of sulphate of ammonia given during the sum- 

 mer months to vegetibles in free growth has a wonderful 

 effect in advancing most crops. The present is a good time 

 to dress such crops as Onions, both spring-planted and 

 spring-sown. Oauhflrjwers may also be assisteil in the same 

 way. Any young seedlings of the Cabbage tribe which may 

 I be in a backward condition are forwarded rapidly by a 



I dressing, which in dry weather sliould be preceded and fol- 



lowed by a watering which need only be slight, as the roots 

 I of these are best kept near the surface. The first water- 



ing at once causes the sulphate to dissolve and prepares 

 the roots for the after watering, while the after supply of 

 water carries the already partly d;.i.solved salt down to the 

 roots without waste, and with rapid effect. The manure 

 is strewn broadcast over thickest crops like Onions, about 

 li to 2 cwt per acre being a good dressing, or from an 

 ounce to an ounce per square yard. Vfe have found it 

 advantageous to mix the manure with an equal part of 

 sh.arp sand, crushing all lumps In the process. For planted- 

 out crops of Cabbages and ('aulillowers the pure nianme 

 is applied, as much as lies between the first and second 



finger and the thumb being a sufficient dressing. Later, 

 we have found a dressing applied to Seakale in the same 

 way that the Onions are treated of great benefit in securing 

 strong forcing crowns. To this crop it should be applied 

 not later than the middle of June, in order that excitement 

 of the plants may not be unduly prolonged in autumn. A 

 dressing at the rate of 2 cwt. per ajre is of great advantage 

 to Celery. We have found the best way to secure cris|i 

 and sound Celery not lijible to produce flower stems, is to 

 grow the crop as quickly as possible. Late sowing ni.ay 

 .safely be indulged in when means are taken to make the 

 growth rapid in June, July, August, September, and October, 

 according to the time the crop is wanted, and nothing 

 secures this result so well as a dres.sing of this sulphate. 

 If dry, water before and after dressing as ad\nsed for seed 

 beds. It is better not to apply to late crops — those for use 

 during February to May. 



Dressing of this manure are of no use to such crops as 

 Peas, Lettuces, Turnips, Artichokes.Potatoe.', and fruit crops 

 generally. Young Rhubarb may be prolonged indefmitely 

 by two or three dressings throughtout the season. Fine- 

 foliage plants in the flower garden are benefited, provided 

 the beds are kept in good heart. — B. — Journal of Horticulture. 



GRAFTING FOR ORNAMENTAL EFFECT. 



The Process of Grafting may be applied to nearly all 

 forest trees and shrubs, from the sapling in the nursery 

 to the tree of saleable dimensions, provided that it be done 

 at the proper season, and sufficient care be taken in the 

 execution of the work. Tiiere is no mystery about the 

 operation, and it can therefore be practised by any care- 

 ful per.son; it simply consi-sts in the joining of a shoot of 

 one variety to that of another, in a proper manner. At 

 one time it was considereil that a graft would succeed 

 upon and variety of stock, but this theory has long liee . 

 laid aside as incorrect, atnl w(; have only to consider the 

 matter from a physiological point of view to see the fallacy 

 of it. The stock and the graft must be identical in 

 regard to the periods of the movements of the sap, the 

 falling of the leaves, and the maturing of the fruit and 

 timber ; and, unless these considerations be carefully ob- 

 served, anything like success can never be realized : they 

 may for a time appear to succeed, but will ultimately 

 dwindle off and die, leaving the operator little credit for 

 his work, besides in a certain degree iniuring the stock 

 for further grafting. 



The principal object to be kept in view in grafting is 

 to properly unite the liber, or inner bark, of the graft 

 with the inner ba»'k of the stock, and keep them toge- 

 ther imtil they are perfectly united, which in most in- 

 stances will occur in aboui three months from the time 

 of grafting. 



There are various modes adopted in grafting, but I con- 

 sider the crown grafting, the bes*; system that can be 

 adopted when applied to forest trees, aud more especially 

 when the trees operated upon are of ordinari y large 

 dimensions. It can be very successfully practisi-d upon 

 thick stocks of headed-down trees, and in this case it is 

 accomplished in the following way : — first cut off the head 

 of stock horizontally if preferred, taking care to have 'he 

 surface of the stock quite smooth ; then cut vna side 

 of the graft flat and sloping, from an inch to an inch 

 and a half long, leaving a .sort of a buldge at the top 

 of the cut to rest on the crown of the stock ; then make an 

 incision in the bark to the required length, raising it care- 

 fully up with the handle of a budding knife, so as to admit 

 the scion between it and the wood, place the scion with the 

 cut side nest the wood, putting it far enough down for the 

 shoulder to rest on the head of the stock ; when this has 

 been completed the graft may be firmly bound u]) with a 

 string of matting and carefully coveredover with clny to the 

 thickness of about an inch and a half, seeing that it he 

 effectually closed to prevent the light or weather from 

 penetrating. 



Gr.ifting may be ccmimenced in spring immediately before 

 the sap has commenced its circulation, but it mu.'-t be ob- 

 served that the grafts should be cut some weeks bcfure they 

 are put on, as it is necessary that the sap of the stocl: should 

 be in brisker motion than that of the scion, and its vegetation 

 more advanced. The clay used may be either yellow or blue, 

 and well beat up, with about a fourth of horsedung mixed in 



