I>ec. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. 1007 



Apricots. — These putN)ii a very strong growth again, but the crop was 

 frozen after it had set. 



Cherries. — Some varieties are doing fairly well, but generally speaking 

 the trees are not doing well in this orchard, and I fear they will not prove a 

 success in this class of soil. 



Peaches. -These also put on very heavy growth, and, like the apricot 

 crop, the young fruit was completely destroyed by frost. 



Pears. — These trees are doing fairly well, making satisfactory growth, and 

 are a nice sturdy lot of trees. 



Plums and Prunes. — Most of these trees are making satisfactory growth, 

 but have not carried any fi-uit yet. The frost destroyed all the fruit on the 

 early blossoming varieties last season. 



Grapes. — A few of the American varieties have done exceedingly well, 

 but some of them are not correctly named, and therefore I cannot mention 

 the varieties until they have been identified. There is, however, a big 

 demand by local residents for the cuttings, and we are unable to supply 

 half of what are required. 



Berries. — Only one red raspberry has proved of much value, but as this 

 is not true to name I cannot give the correct designation until we have 

 succeeded in identifying it. 



Gooseberries and Currants have proved failures on the light soil. 



Shelter Trees. — The Oriental Planes and Pinus Insignis have made very 

 satisfactory growth, but the Walnuts are failures. The Cedrus Deodara 

 are making fair growth, while the Osage Orange is doing well. 



Grasshoppers. 



Letters of complaints of damage done to crops, and appeals for advice, 

 which annually reach the Department at the commencement of the 

 grasshopper season, are now being i-eceived, and the repetition of the advice 

 given by the Government Entomologist for the treatment of this plague will 

 not be out of place at the present time. 



Mr. Froggatt is of opinion that the most effective method is the spraying 

 of the young hoppers with kerosene emulsion. One gallon of water should 

 be boiled with a half pound of hard soap, to which should be added 2 gallons 

 of kerosene. This should be thoroughly well mixed by pouring from one 

 bucket to another. Water should then be added in the proportion of 6 

 gallons to every gallon of the mixture. This emulsion should be sprayed on 

 when the grasshoppers are in the young stage, and preferably when massed 

 closely together. When they reach the flying stage little can be done to 

 deal with the pest. 



