42 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Notes and Abstracts. 



By G. O. SHERRARD. 



EIGHTH Report of the Wobirn Experimental 

 Fruit F'arm. By the Duke of Bedford, K.G., and 



__ Spencer U. Pickering-, F".K.S. This report con- 

 tains a larg-e amount of information relating: to fungicides 

 and insecticides obtained as the result of experiments 

 carried out at the Wobiirn Fruit Farm. It deals with 

 the nature of Bordeaux mixture and its action on fung-i ; 

 also the cause of the scorching sometimes produced by 

 it on the foliage to which the spray is applied. Lead 

 arsenate is mentioned, and it is recommended that 

 growers should purchase the paste already made up 

 instead of attempting to compound it themselves, as the 

 ingredients, if improperly mixed, are bound to injure the 

 trees. Perhaps the most interesting and valuable por- 

 tion of the report is that treating of emulsions of paraffin 

 oil. Most gardeners know how fatal paraffin oil is to 

 insect life, and use it for the winter washing of vines and 

 the like, but they are also aware of the extreme care 

 which has to be exercised in its application in order to 

 prevent it from injuring the plants to which it is applied. 

 It is found that if paraffin be applied in the form of an 

 emulsion — i.e., broken up into very minute globules and 

 thoroughly mixed with the water — It does not injure 

 the plant tissues, but at the same time retains its insecti- 

 cidal value. To obtain the emulsion gardeners usually 

 churn the paraffin up with water in which soft soap has 

 been dissolved. Mr. Pickering has found that if milk of 

 lime be mixed with iron or copper sulphate, and paraffin 

 be added to this mixture, a very perfect emulsion is 

 formed with onh' a slig-ht agitation of the liquid. The 

 advantages of such an emulsion over one made with 

 soap are : — (i) That a more complete emulsion is 

 obtained. (2) The copper sulphate and lime (if used) 

 constitute Bordeaux mixture and act as a fungicide. 

 (3) In winter caustic soda may be added without de- 

 stroying the emulsion, as would be the case if soap were 

 used. Arsenate of lead itself acts as an emulsifier of 

 the oil, so that in the case of its application a little 

 paraffin might be used to increase its action as an 

 insecticide. The report also contains notes on the 

 removal of moss iVom apple trees and the adhesion of 

 lime washes to trees. Accounts are g-iven of experiments 

 carried on to find out the best means of destroying- aphis, 

 apple sucker, and apple mildew. 



Mr. Pickering recommends the following sprays as a 

 result of his experiments : — 



As a ivititer ivasJi for destro}ing moss, lichen, scale, 

 and some fungi: — («) Copper sulphate, ij^, lbs. ; lime, 

 Yz lb. ; solar distillate (paraffin), 5 pints ; water to make 

 up to 10 gallons ; caustic soda, 2 lbs. ; or 



As a iviiiter 7vas/i with no fungicidal properties : — 

 (b) Iron sulphate, 8 ozs. ; lime, 4 ozs. ; solar distillate, 5 

 pints ; water to make up to 10 gallons ; caustic soda, 



2 lbs. 



As a siDiniier 7vas/i for caterpillar, aphis, and mil- 

 dew : — Copper sulphate, 10 ozs. ; lime water, 8 gfallons 



3 pints ; solar distillate, 16 to 24 ozs. ; water to make up 

 to 10 gallons. 



As a sKiiinier 7vash for caterpillar and aphis only : — 

 Iron sulphate, 8 ozs. ; lime, 4 ozs. ; solar distillate, 16 to 

 24 ozs. ; water to make up to 10 gallons. 



For apple sucker : — _A decoction of 3 lbs. of tobacco 

 powder to 10 gallons of water sprayed on the tree just 

 before the blossoms open. 



Judging from the results obtained at Woburn, these 

 sprays are well worth a trial by practical growers. Care 

 should be taken when applying the sprays containing 

 2 lbs. of caustic soda to 10 gallons, as at this strength 

 painful burns are sometimes produced on the hands of 

 the workmen. It would be advisable for the latter to 

 wear rubber gloves. 



Current Topics. 



By PETER BROCK, Orchard Terrace, Enniskillen. 



THE weathei- during the first half of February, 

 being mild and spring-like, permitted out-door 

 work— such as ploughing, digging and plant- 

 ing — to be done under favourable conditions. The 

 calm, dull, dry days were also suitable for winter 

 spraying, and much of this work has been done 

 earlier, and apparently more thoroughly than usual. 



The present rivalry between scientifically-prepared 

 proprietary spray-fluids and caustic fluid mixtures will, 

 doubtless, enable fruit growers to choose remedies in the 

 future that will be more certain in action on fungoid and 

 insect pests than those hitherto in general use. Trees 

 which have been regularly and thoroughh- sprayed with 

 the caustic soda and pearlash fluid are perfectly clean 

 and free from moss or scum. This fluid has not, how- 

 ever, given general satisfaction in destroying eggs, 

 except where the trees have been spraj-cd twice, and 

 as late as possible with safety to the buds. Those who 

 have recently tried some of the new proprietary spray- 

 fluids are pleased with the way the bark is cleaning. 

 It will, however, be more interesting to learn later on 

 how the eggs of aphids, apple sucker, and winter moths 

 have fared. Special fluids for American gooseberry- 

 mildew have also been tried under favourable atmos- 

 pheric conditions — i.e., under as high a temperature as 

 we need ever expect in February. 



Bullfinches have recently caused considerable damage 

 to plums and gooseberries by pulling oft" the buds. The 

 sparrow near towns and villages is as destructive on 

 buds of gooseberries as the bullfinch is in rural districts. 

 After they have started their depredations, spraying 

 with quassia extract will stop both of these birds from 

 their wholesale destruction of buds. Take i lb. of 

 quassia chips for every 10 gallons of water or spray 

 fluid to be used ; steep overnight in cold water, then 

 boil for one hour ; strain and add to the spray fluid ; or, 

 if applied without winter-spraying mixtures, add ^ lb. 

 soft soap to every 10 gallons of water. 



Besides insect enemies which infest the leaves of 

 plants, there are wire-worms, eel-worms, gall-worms, 

 and other pests which act on the roots, causing con- 

 siderable injury, and sometimes the loss of carrots, par- 

 snips, onions, potatoes, &c. Garden soils which have 

 been liberally supplied with farm-yard manure are 

 generally the worst infested with soil insects. Lime and 

 soot when properly applied act as soil insecticides. 

 These remedies, however, are entirely superseded by 

 vaporite as a soil insecticide. It should be deeply 

 worked into the soil before seed time, as it gives off a 

 a gas which works upwards. 



e^ e^ e^ 



When to Sow Tomatoes under Glass. 



For the main crop under glass sow the first week in 

 March at a temperature of from 60 to 70 degrees F. 

 As soon as the plants have made two leaves pot them off 

 into four-inch pots in a compost of three parts good, 

 fibrous loam and one part manure from an old hotbed. 

 When the roots have well filled the pots plant out in a 

 prepared border of loam and rotten manure. Train to a 

 single stem, and keep all laterals pinched off as they 

 appear. The plants may run up to 12 feet high, and will 

 bear fruit from the bottom to the top of the haulm. 

 Ventilate the house freely, top and bottom, in hot 

 weather. When the flowers open a Ught tap to each plant 

 at 12 o'clock noon will distribute the pollen, and cause a 

 good setting of fruit. When the fruit begins to swell 

 the plants should get a plentiful supply of water, using 

 manure water at least once a week. 



J. Devine, Kilworth, 



