IRISH GAKDF.NINL. 



IX 



Winter Spraying of Fruit Trees. 



TIIK following exlr.icls are IVoiii the "Sprayinif 

 CiiU'iidar," jfiveii by IVofessor Pickpriiifr, M.A., 

 K. R., Director of the Wobiirn Experimental 

 h'ruil Farm, and F. V. Theobald, M.A., Vice- Principal, 

 South Kasiern Ajjriciiltiiral College, Wye, Kent, in 

 their very useful handbook, " Fruii Trees and their 

 Enemies." (Copies of this book can be had pot frcr 

 for IS. gd. each.) 



" .Apart from the consider.ition of the direct action 

 of a winter wash in destroying- various pests which are 

 probably present, moss, lichen and dead bark must 

 always accumulate, and the freer trees are kept froin 

 these the healthier they will be, and the less will be the 

 opportunities aflforded for insects to flourish on them." 



"From January to March. — Spray trees with a 

 caustic paraffin emulsion lor cleansing them of dead 

 bark, and destroying moss, lichen, mussel scale, small 

 apple, ermine moth, gooseberry and currant scale, 

 gooseberry spider, currant shoot and fruit moth, pear 

 leaf, blister mite, and possibly other insects." 



" Winter spraying is now resorted to by practically 

 every up to-date fruit grower. The formula most 

 recommended for Winter Spraying Emulsion is as 

 follows :— Soft soap, {lb. ; paraffin (solar distillate), 5 

 pints ; caustic soda, 2 to 2§ lbs. ; water, gi gallons. 

 The necessary articles for this and all other Spraying 

 ■md Fumigating .Mixtures can be had, with directions 

 for mixing, from D. M. Watson, M.P.S., Horticultur;il 

 Chemist, 61 South Great George's Street, Dublin. 

 Phone 1971. 



Correspoiulence. 



SlK, In your issue of November Mr. Hedford slates 

 that in advising bulbs in bowls being put in the dark, 

 I have "exposed the old skeleton in the cupboard once 

 more." There is usually more than one method of 

 doing a thing, and if .Mr. Bedford considers his plan 

 so much better than mine, it is a pity ih.it he did not 

 L-arlier in the season give the readers of iKisii Gar- 

 dening the benefit of his experience. He must know 

 as well as others that November is late for planting 

 bulbs, and also that in November the best bulbs 

 have been sold out. My method has given entire 

 satisfaction, and I have suggested to others to try it 

 for themselves.' Sunny windows, greenhouses, and 

 frames are not always available, and my "hints "arc 

 for those who have to make shift with what is already 

 there. I made no mention whatever of Hyacinths in 

 glasses. Hyacinths are stifl" at the best of times, but 

 when suspended in glasses they lose all beauty they 

 ever had. Why does Mr. Bedford bother to grow 

 bulbs in fibre and bowls when he has every means 

 available for growing them to perfection in good soil 

 and pots? R. M. Poi.i.ocK. 



Sir, — I have read with much interest Mr. Moeran's 

 article in the November Irish Gardening. I can con- 

 firm his facts, but can give no reasons. On the high 

 plateau between Macgillicuddy's Reeks and the sea I left 

 my car on the road to examine a high bank of turf being 

 cut. What surprised me were fallen trees with all their 

 branches on which had grown on pure gravel. Over 

 these trees were several feet of black bog nearly as 



HAWLMARK ROSES 



Special Offer of the undernoted Four Famous Collections of Roses 

 CARRIAGE PAID FOR CASH >VITH ORDER 



COLLECTION containing Twelve Finest Hybrid ' COLLECTION containing Twelve Finest Hybrid 



Tea Roses, Including many of our GOLD 



Perpetual Roses, our selection, 8 



COLLECTION containing Twelve Finest Hybrid 

 Tea Roses, our selection, 10 



MEDAL VARIETIES, 12 



COLLECTION containing Twelve Finest Climb- 

 ing and Rambling Roses for Pergolas, 

 Arches, and Walls, 12 



The Finest Rose Catalogue published, containing full cultural Instructions, 



free on application to 



ALEX. DICKSON & SONS, Ltd. 



HAWLMARK 



OAKLEY PARK, BLACKROCK, CO. DUBLIN 



