080 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Sept. 2, 1920. 



weeds of the district for the purpose of reference. It was decided to apply 

 to the Fisheries Department for a quantity of trout fry for liberation in the 

 Tnntawanglo river, and also to ask kindred associations to co-operate in 

 prote(;ting the fish in the stream. 



A paper was read by Mr. John Alcock, chairman, giving an account of a 

 visit to Hawkesbury Agricultural College. 



Castlereagh (via Penrith). 



A branch of the Bureau has been formed at this centre, with the following 

 office-bearers : — Chairman, Mr. C. A. Holswich*; Treasurer, Mr. A. Lang ; 

 Hon. Secretary, Mr. D. Hattersley. 



Cunningar. 



Under the auspices of this branch, a pruning demonstration was given by 

 Mr. S. A. Hogg, Assistant Fruit Expert, on 13th July. Twenty members and 

 a number of visitors attended. Some of the trees operated on had been 

 dealt with the previous year, and members were very interested in the 

 progress made. 



Kellyville. 



The usual monthly meeting of this bi-anch was held on 12th July, when 

 twenty-four members attended. After the usual business had been disposed 

 of, it was decided to arrange for all the members to visit Hawkesbury Agri- 

 cultural College during September and October. 



Lidcombe. 



On 12th July Mr. E. N". Ward, Sujjerintendent of the Botanic Gardens, 

 delivered a lecture to a good muster of members on the subject, " Shade 

 Trees for Towns and Cities." 



SuADE Trees for Towns and Cities. 



Mr. Ward said that the task of planting shade trees is as important as the problem of 

 selecting the species best adapted to soil and climate. Trees should possess certain 

 attributes, chief of whicli are hardiness and capacity to withstand the environment of 

 city life, such as heat, drouglit, smoke, and dust. 



Trees must have straight stems, and must be symmetrical in growth. Few trees are 

 absolutely free from pests, but some are more immune than others. 



Trees that grow open, scraggy heads are unsiglitly, and are not adequate for shade 

 purposes ; on the other hand, a dense shade that wholly excludes sunlight is not desirable, 

 nor is the tree that is continuously shedding its leaves and bark, keeping the sidewalks 

 in an untidy condition. 



The street tree must be loiigdived — slow-growing varieties are generally more so than 

 the quick-growing sorts. Planting in the streets must be done so that posterity may 

 commend us for our forethought. 



The lecturer described various trees, some of which, in his opinion, would be more 

 suitable for parks and cemeteries than for street planting. He advised that when trees 

 are being planted fertilisers should not be used, nor should the planting be in "pot 

 holes," which he described as death-traps. Strips should be dug where the land is not 

 wholly cultivated in order to permit surplus water to escape and give uninterrupted 

 root room. 



The soil of Lidcombe requires working, but it would be an error to attempt to 

 lighten it with manures. 



For streets he advised planting inside the kerb-line, the trees to be not less than 

 40 feet apart. 



Trees need staking from infancy, protection from straying stock and from vehicular 

 traffic, a first-class spraying outlit, and a caretaker who thoroughly understands his 

 work. 



