Feb. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 145 



Cordeaux-Goondarin. 



A meeting of this branch was held on ith December, twelve members being 

 present. General business, including the purchase of fertilisers, &c., by mem- 

 bers on co-operative lines, was dealt with during the evening. Two new 

 members were enrolled. 



Gotta Walla. 



A meeting of this branch was held on 8th December, when the question 

 of " Bush Week " was discussed, and it was decided to co-operate with 

 Crookwell district in staging an exhibit. It was realised that the task was a 

 difficult one, as the district was passing through the most severe drought 

 ever experienced. Members hoped, nevertheless, to make a creditable showing. 



Dural. 



At the last meeting the following answers to questions in the Agricultural 

 Gazette were arrived at : — 



It has not been found necessary in the Dural district to grow other plums 

 to fertilise the Satsuma. This applies to most varieties of Japanese plums 

 grown here. The plum crop in this district is the lightest for many years. 

 This is attributed to sudden changes of temperature, which occur frequently 

 during that critical time when the fruit is just setting. 



Cross-pollination is considered necessary for the Jonathan apple, and the 

 following varieties are recommended for that purpose : — King David, 

 Mcintosh Red, Thompson's Seedling and Fanny. 



Kellyville. 



A meeting was held on 6th December, when general business was discussed. 

 Sample packets of Saccaline seed were distributed amongst members for 

 ' trial purposes. Members decided that they would start preparing the exhibit 

 to be staged by the branch at the coming local show. 



On the resignation of the chairman, Mr. J. Nutter was elected for the 

 ensuing year. 



Lidcombe. 



A meeting of this branch was held on 1st December, forty-five members 

 being present. 



During the evening Mr. W. W. Edwards read a paper on the growing of 

 vegetables. He dealt mainly with the growing of the cabbage, cauliflower, 

 lettuce, onions, beetroot, turnips, carrots, beans, tomatoes, kohl rabi, and 

 other vegetables. The following paper was read by Mi. J. T. Hillson : — 



The Land and its Prepakation foe Gbowing. 



The whole of our success in gardening depends not so much on what we plant in land 

 when it first comes into our possession, as upon the kind of soil the land is composed of, 

 and also the way in which we prepare it for growing. One could take up the whole of 

 the evening in the discussion of the draining of the land. 



While all land requires breaking up, draining and sweetening, much depends upon what 

 use we intend to put it to. For instance, while 4 or 5 inches is a quite deep enough ploughing 

 for wheat, it would not be deep enough to grow fruit. Nor can we expect to grow good fruit 

 without it, the reason being that the fruit tree has to occupy the land for many years. 

 Many an orchard for a few years has looked well to the casual observer, but after a time 

 has become diseased and died out, either through lack of drainage or improper prepara- 

 tion. In one such orchard the owner dug deep holes ; he then collected leaves and bush 

 scrapings, filled up the holes and planted his trees. But there was no drainage. 

 Consequently, when a spell of wet weather came his trees perished. 



