o 



78 Agrimltuml Gazette ofN.S.W. [May 3, 1920. 



Matcliam. 

 Members of this branch met on 28th February, when a discussion on 

 woolly aphis and its remedies was introduced by Mr. Auldridge. Mr. 

 J. Anderson opened the discussion. As an apple grower for a number of 

 yeai's, he expressed the opinion that with care and attention much could be 

 done to protect and clear the trees of the trouble by spraying with red oil at 

 leaf fall, and then a little later with a concentrated tobacco extract. Pruning 

 was also a help ; the old wood and knots and matter carrying the aphis 

 should be removed where possible without injury to the tree. At times 

 kerosene emulsion was effective. 



Mr. Crossland endorsed the previous speaker's remarks and said he had 

 seen good results from this treatment. Mr. Mills said he had treated his 

 trees with half kerosene and half castor oil and had got good results but, 

 being a slow process, this would only apply to small areas, though it w^as 

 worth a trial. 



Mr. Macinante, a successful apple grower of this district, said he had found 

 cultivation as well as spraying a great help to trees affected by this trouble- 

 some pest. He found that if tobacco stems were soaked and a little soap 

 powder mixed with kerosene were added, the mixture had a good effect ; but 

 regretted that, while the real orchardist was doing his be'st to combat these 

 pests, careless persons who did not depend upon fruit-growing for a living 

 were allowing their trees to breed aphis by millions. This created much 

 trouble and caused extra expense for spray nmterial, labour and loss of fruit, 

 which meant reduced profit to the grower. 



Departmental Note. — The Department prefers to clean the trees with a strong 

 concentrated tobacco extract and then later to use niiscible oil if necessary. It should be 

 clearly pointed out that the mixture of kerosene and castor oil should not bo used as 

 a spray but just painted on affected parts. It should not be allowed to run down the 

 bark. 



Middle Dural. 



A meeting of the members of this branch was held on 5th March, when 

 Mr. C. W. Roughley submitted a report of an analysis conducted by the 

 Chemist of the Department of Agriculture on various brands of lime-sulphur. 

 A lengthy discussion followed on the unsatisfactory i-esults shown by the 

 analyses, and it v/as unanimously agreed that, providing the Department's 

 formula w^as used, together with a Bauine hydrometer, a very much more 

 satisfactory article than some of the lines on the market could be made bj 

 grower.s themselves. 



Milbrulong. 



A meeting of forty-five members of this l^ranch was held on 8th March, 

 when a discussion tot)k place on co-opeiative buying, and it was unanimously 

 decided to move in the mattei-. An executive conmiittee of nine members 

 was elected to carry out the co-operative business of the branch. Members 

 intend to carry out the business on a strictly cash basis, and an order for 

 goods valued at £400 was sent away. 



There is now a membership of this branch of 108. 



