70 AgriciiUural Gazette of N.S.W. [Jan. 2, 1920. 



Dural. 



At the last meeting of the above branch, the questions which appeared 



in the November issue of the Agricultural Gazette were discussed. 



It was agreed that the rule in the district was to mulcli young trees with stable manure 

 and this medium was considered much superior to anything else, though bush leaves 

 were also considered good. Members had had no experience of one-way disc cultivators, 

 the spring-tooth cultivator being almost generally used, and being considered by many 

 prominent growers as the best orchard implement in existence. The disc cultivator was 

 used at Dural for young summer grass about December. 



Garra-PineclifiFe. 



The annual meeting of this branch was held on 6th November, when the 

 secretary's report showed a satisfactory state of affairs, and the balance- 

 sheet a useful credit balance. 



The election of officers resulted as follows ; — Chairman, Mr. W. Forester ; 

 Vice-chairman, Mr. H. Robards; Treasurer, Mr. S. Robards; Hon. Secretary, 

 Mr. S. W. Packham. 



Jilliby-Dooralong. 



A meeting of this branch was held on 5th November, there being an atten- 

 dance of seven members. The business was of a general character. A 

 discussion took place on the marketing of pigs, and it was generally held that 

 disappointing prices were received, due largely to pigs that were not really 

 in the best condition for market being sent to the sales, 



Lidcombe. 



At a meeting of the above branch held on 20th October, at which thirty-five 

 members were present, a lecture was given by Mr. A. A. Ramsay, Principal 

 Assistant Chemist, on the use of lime in the garden. 



Mr. Ramsay said it was not known when the use of lime was first discovered as a manure 

 for the garden, but mention was made of it in Pliny's writings of 50 a.d. During the 

 sixteenth and seventeenth centuries lime and dung were the only two manures in use for 

 the enrichment of the soil. 



Quicklime was chiefly used for altering the physical condition of the soil. This 

 action was accompanied by destruction of a certain amount of organic matter, which 

 must be re])laced. Nitrogenous manures such as blood, bone and blood, or ammonium 

 sulphate should not be used immediately after the ap])lication of lime, as a loss of nitrogen 

 would result. An interval of two or three weeks should l^e allowed. 



Limestone or calcium carbonate had not been so extensively used owing to its not 

 being procurable in a finely ground state. Recently, however, this product had been 

 put on the market in a suitable condition and its use was increasing. This calcium 

 carbonate sweetened the ground witliout destroying the organic matter ])rcsont. The 

 use of both forms of lime would liberate potash from any potash silicates present. 



Dealing with quantities to be applied, the lecturer stated that it was preferable to 

 a])i)ly the lime in smaller quantities at more frequent intervals, rather than very large 

 quantities at longer intervals. Upon average ground 10 cwt. per acre would bo sufficient, 

 but where the soil was exceptionally heavy or poor, larger dressings might be applied. 



At a meeting on 3rd November, at which there was an attendance of thirty- 

 one members, a lecture was given by Dr. Darnell-Smith, Biologist, on plant 

 diseases. Following is a condensed report : — 



The lecturer pointed out that plant diseases miglit be divided into two classes — (1) 

 physiological diseases brought about by some adverse conditions of soil or climate ; and 

 (2) fungus diseases caused through the attack of certain parasitic fungi. 



