'48 Agricultural Gazette of X.S.W. [Oct. 2, 1920. 



Spraying the Poultry Houses. 

 To do this work properly, a good force-pump with hose (such as is used by 

 orchar(Hsts) is necessary, so that every crack and crevice in the fowl-house 

 can be reached with the kerosene emulsion. Where the infestation is bad, 

 two, three, or even more sprayings will be necessary. One spraying is of 

 little or no use. The sprayings should be given with an interval of a day or 

 two between each, so that any mites that may have been missed by the first 

 spray may gradually all be exterminated. When these spraying operations 

 are thoroughly understood they involve less time than would appear at first 

 sight. 



Orchard Notes, 



October. 



\V. .J. ALLEN and W. le GAY BRf:RETON. 



The preservation of moisture in the soil by thorough cultivation is one of the 

 main cares of the orchardist during the summer months. Generally at the 

 present season the cultivator, either rigid or spring-tooth, is sufficient to 

 loosen the ground and put it in good condition, but should the trampling 

 from spraying after rain be excessive then it* may be necessary to resort to 

 the plough. If possible, it is better to reserve the use of the plough till later, 

 when the bulk of the spraying is through for the season. Moreover, in our 

 tableland and coastal districts it is often necessary to use the plough later 

 in the >>eason, repeated showers having prevented lighter implements from 

 being used on the land until the w^eeds have become too big to be dealt with 

 by anything else. 



Any part of the land near the tree that cannot be reached by the plough 

 or cultivator should be broken up and kept fne of weeds by means of either 

 pronged or fiat hoe. 



Newly-plaiited trees retjuire special attention in this way, and shoidd a 

 <hy spell set in, it should be remembered that the roots of such trees are not 

 fully established, and it may be necessary to open up round them and apply 

 from 4 to 8 gallons of water. After the water has soaked away, the hole 

 .should be filled in with dry soil to prevent evaporation. 



Land on slopes that has been brought into good order by the cultivator is 

 unfoi'tuna'el}' easily washed by heavy falls of rain. Where these are likely to 

 occur, open furrows should be made frequently to prevent the water accu- 

 mulating at any point until it breaks thrcjugh, carrying the loose soil with it. 

 Cai'e should be taken that such open fuiTows have not too steep a grade, or 

 they will wash into big channels ; at the same time, if of insufficient grade 

 or badly located, they will not carry the water through minor depressions, 

 and the trouV)le is only aggravated thereby. 



