6^6 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [ti Sept., 191 i. 



Urine.— A.W.T. asks whether the washings of tlie pig st)es, which coasi»t 

 hirgely of urine, may be placed around fruit trees. 



Answer. — To ])revent any deleterious elTect on vegtlation, urine should if 

 ])Ossible be kept for some time in a tank and reduced considerably with water 

 before applying to the growing jilant. If this is done no danger will follow, but 

 certain advantages from its use will be reaped. 



Sawdi'ST. — W.J.R. asks whether sawdust will have anv ill effects on orchard 

 soils. 



Answer. — Sawdust should be mellowed or rotted down before being jdoughed 

 into orchard soils, otherwise some of the resins contained in it may injure the 

 roots. It could be mellowed by using lightly as a mulch, by mixing with lime, 

 or by using as stable bedding and allowing it to afterwards rot. If it could be 

 burned, the ash would be far better for orchard use. In either case, it would 

 ultimately tend to lighten soils. 



Black Scale .and Soot on OrAxXck Trees. — A.W.T. asks whether spraying 

 may now be carried out; and, if so, what strength should be used. 



Answer. — Red oil emulsion — i in 35. Spray now, choosing a cloudy da). 

 To make emulsion, boil i gallon of water and 2 lbs. of soft soap until soap is 

 dissolved. Add 2 gallons of red oil. Bring mixture to the boil ; and, by pump- 

 ing the oil back upon itself through nozzle of spray pump, emulsify it. The emul- 

 sion should then thoroughly mix with cold water. Fumigation when the young 

 insect comes out is by far the most reliable remedy. Insect pests and fungus 

 diseases of citrus trees were dealt with on page 520 of the August Journal. 



Strawberries. — E.A.W. states that some strawberry plants which she has 

 had for two years do not yet show signs of bearing fruit, although looking particu- 

 larly healthy. 



Answer. — -Some varieties of strawberries do not bear until they are well 

 established. In the case mentioned they may have been planted from weak runners 

 or from old crowns ; both are bad planting methods. Another cause may be the 

 fact that the plants do not bear pistillate flowers, or they may require other 

 varieties for fertilization. 



Strawberry Fly. — W.H. inquires as to treatment recommended for the Straw- 

 berry Fly. 



Answer.— ^f^xTk^^ plants with Benzole emulsion — i in 5. The smell will re- 

 n.ain on the plants for some days, but no danger to the strawberries will result. 



Ribbed Case Moth. — E.L.I, states that his gum tree- have been attacked 

 b) caterpillars. Specimens forwarded. 



Answer. — The specimens sent are the caterpillars of the Ribbed Case Moth. 

 Spray with arsenate of lead or Benzole emulsion. 



Tarpaulins. — F.R. asks how tarpaulins are made waterproof. 



Answer. — Tarpaulins may be made waterproof by saturation (preferably) or 

 by painting the canvas with a solution made as follows : — 10 lbs. of vegetable 

 black; 20 gall, of raw, and 20 gall, of boiled linseed oil. Mix thoroughly; then 

 coat as above and afterwards allow to dry thoroughly. 



Hard Seeds. — J.R.M. refers to article on " The Nature and Uses of Hard 

 Seeds" v.hich appeared in the December, 1910, Journal. He asks to what tempera- 

 ture the water .should be raised when soaking hard seeds such as Black Wattle, 

 Lightwood, &c., in order to secure a good germination. 



Answer. — Perhai)s the best practical method of dealing with hard seeds is to 

 pour a large quantity of boiliiig water over them and then leave them to cool in the 

 water. If, on the following day, only a few of the seeds are still hard and 

 unswollen, the seeds can be planted immediately. They should not be allowed to 

 dry again or be planted during very dry weather or in very dry soil. If the seeds 

 are kept in boiling water for any length of time, the " soft " ones will swell and 

 are then killed by a temperature exceeding 70 to 80 deg. centigrade. Hence, unless 

 the water has fallen below this temperature before the seeds begin to swell, the 

 gain in germination of the hard seeds may be more than balanced by a loss of 

 germination in the softer seeds, if the sample is a mixed one. 



