346 Agrnmltural Gazetlr of N.S.W. [^yjW/ 2, 1908. 



Green M<i n h mi'/. Alt liniiL;ii it is L;ct t iiii;' r;itli(i' late in a numl iiiaii\' dia- 

 tri(;ts ti) sow <-ri.[)s aiiioiiL; tlic ti'et's, it is, liowcver, l)(est to ]int tliciii in as 

 early as jjossihlc now lather than to niis^j tlie season. Tt is a recognised fact 

 that soil cannot go on producing crops witliout the loss of a great amount 

 of plant food which is reiiiiired for the sustenance of the trees or vines, and 

 hence it becomes necessary for growers to assist in replacing in as large a 

 measure as possible the constituents so removed from the soil. One of the 

 besr and cheapest ways of floing this is the growing and plougliing iiiidei- of 

 green crops, such as clovers, vetclies, peas, rye, ttc, whicli help, not onlv to 

 build up the worn-out soil, but also assist in keeping it in condition when 

 once it has been put into a suitable state of fertility. 



Liiiiituj Siiil. — liiinc nia\- he aj)plic(l in (•as(>s where the soil is found 

 to require it, pai-ticularlv where it is sour, or wlicrc it is very heavy or sticky. 

 After making the application of lime, see that is well worked into the 

 surface soil. 



Destruction of Pests. — Ft is most important that our citrus growers should 

 endeavour to i-id their trees of all scales, either by fumigating or sprayirg, 

 and this with as little delay as possil)le, as even after the scale is killed it 

 takes some time for it to leave tlie fruit, particularly after fumigation. 

 Fumigating tables may be obtained on application to the Department of 

 Agriculture. 



"^s' 



San Jose Scale. — Lime and sulphur solution, without the afldition of the 

 salt, is one of the best sprays for the destruction of this scale. The mixture 

 to be applied about the time the buds begin to swell in the spring, and i.s 

 made as follows: — Take 15 lb. of best lime and 15 lb. of sulphur to 50 

 gallons of water. The sulphur is put into 12 gallons of water, nearly at 

 the boiling-point, after being mixed with sufficient water to form a thin 

 paste; the lime is then added, and the mixture is boiled for forty minutes,, 

 keeping it stirred from time to time. Tlie whole is then sti'ained into a 

 50-gallon tank, which is thereupon filled with water. If one has a tank 

 large enough to liring the whole 50 gallons to a boil, and apply while hot,. 

 I am inclined to think that this spray woidd be still mote etiective. Such 

 a solution should not be so hard on the hands of the ouerator as when 

 .salt is added. 



Codling Moth. — Bandages must still be kept on the trees, as even after all 

 the fi'uit is remo\('(l, an occasional grub finds its way to the bandages. All 

 props should 'je removed from the orchard, and any gi'ubs adhering to then 

 destroyed. 



Planting. — Planting of citrus trees may be continued this month. When 

 autumn planting is practised, care should be taken in handling such trees not 

 to expose the roots to either wind or sun for any length of time. As there 

 has been a good demand for suital)le varieties of apples for export this year, 

 growei's of this fruit should, in planting, only put in such varieties as are 

 found the most suitable for export, and i-enienilx !• that an apple which colours 

 up nicely (pref(>i'ablv red), and which t'anie> and keeps well, is the one to 



