140 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 March, 1918. 



with the unusual prominence or length of the fruit-buds, the rela- 

 tive distance between the nodes, and the softness of the wood in 

 these districts when compared with the same varieties grown in 

 fruit centres known to possess lime in abundance. 



It may not, however, be correct to assign these differences solely 

 to the effect of lime, as other soil constituents bear an important 

 part on the character of the tree and its fruit-buds, particularly 

 potash. It is generally recognised that the trees are not so man- 

 ageable nor so prolific in bearing in soils where lime is deficient, 

 and growers who have rectified this have had excellent results, 

 though as artificial fertilizers were subsequently applied the same 

 year, the relative value of the lime could not be ascertained. 

 Though lime plays an important part in the apple and pear tree, 

 it is in the stone fruits that its value is most apparent. It is a 

 familiar fact that in soils rich in lime the stone fruits set their 

 crops Avell, and are not so prone to cast off their fruit at the pei'iod 

 of ' stoning ' as is otherwise the case. Where trees are making 

 extensive wood growth with abundant foliage there is but little 

 doubt that the application of lime at the rate of 7 to 8 cwt. to the 

 acre would be of pronounced benefit. 



No class of fruit is more eloquent in its request for specific soil 

 constituents than the citrus. A light yellowish appearance of the 

 leaves demands an application of nitrogenous manures, whilst the 

 want of phosphoric acid is evidenced by many of the light laterals 

 dying off. In a soil where lime is abundant the thinness of the rind, 

 the deep colour and delicate aroma of the fruit are special features 

 of the orange, so that beneficial effects are obtained by the use of 

 lim^e in almost all classes of fruit." 



(To he continued.) 



Fungous diseases are much more difficult to control in most cases than 

 insects. One must fight something that he cannot see but feels sure will 

 come later in the shape of diseases. There is little that can be done to 

 destroy or control diseases after they have become visible to the naked 

 eye. These diseases come from minute spores that float through the air 

 in very large numbers and come to rest on the plants. When the proper 

 time and conditions come, these spores grow and enter the tissue of the 

 plant on which they feed. xVfter the disease once enters the tissue of 

 the plant there is no remedy. Nothing can be applied that will kill the 

 disease and not harm the plant. It is the spores, then, that must be 

 killed. With this explanation it is easily seen that the so-called fungi- 

 cides are really " sporocides," and must be used before the spores grow. 

 — California Cultivator, 26/1/16. 



