8 July, 1908.] Raising an Export Apple Orchard. 397 



work b\ well opening uj) the tree. Leaves, raid consequently buds, require 

 to be largest and strongest at the base and the underside, so as to bear 

 truit of equal size with that towards the top. 



No defective connexions between the different parts of the tree must 

 te established by the introduction of unripened wood often caused by sum- 

 mer pruning when the wood has not time to ripen. Ripened wood has 

 libbed bark and little pith, unripened is soft and pithy. Apple wood of 

 nnrmai growth retiuires 16 to 18 weeks to ripen ; of strong growth 18 to 

 24 weeks. 



The Bark of trees should be prevented from becoming hard and dry, 

 as in this state it acts as a ligature, checks sap movement, and causes 

 dwarfed trees. Rough bark is thick, and denotes strong constitution, while 

 smooth soft bc.rk is thin and sensitive. 



Pests and Diseases. 



Without reference to the pests and diseases that the young orchard may 

 be subject to, and the means tO' contend with them, this article would be 

 incomplete. 



WIoollx ApJiis. — The woolly aphis so insiduonsl\- and silently establishes 

 itself that the grower must continually be on the alert for its presence. 

 At the beginning of its attack it is very easily dealt with, if prompt 

 measures are adopted. Unfortunately, orchardists, when dealing with this 

 pest, lack thoroughness. They forget that so enormously .rapid does the 

 insect reDroduce its species that a single female is capable of becoming 

 ii: the one season the genetrix of such an army of its kind as will infest 

 the whole orchard. This being so, no half measures will meet the case. 

 Absolute and complete eradication must follow the efforts of the grower 

 who expects to be successful against it. An emulsion of crude petroleum 

 oil at a strength of i in 10 is the best spray. Dabbing it on with a brush, 

 a common practice, is altogether unsatisfactory, as the insect works on 

 the underside of the branch, and by this means the material cannot be 

 properlv applied. The spray punqi with a bent nozzle should be used, 

 and the spraver must keep his nozzle close up to the part he is spraying, 

 using plenty of force to drive the material into all the little crevices in 

 which the insect has become lodged. A fortnight after, the trees sprayed 

 must be carefully examined, and, if any insects remain, again treated in 

 a similar manner. Another inspection after a similar interval should be 

 given, and should any be then found it is quite evident that the insects 

 are r^i'otected 1)\' projecting bark from the action of the spray. This bark 

 must be cut awav. and the part infested treated as before. It would 

 appear that this process entails a great deal of labor, but after the first 

 .spraying the insect will be localised to the few parts passed over, and to 

 places protected from the spray. 



Petroleum or red oil emulsion is made thus : — Boil one gallon of water 

 and 2 lbs. of soft soap until the soap is dissolved. Add two gallons of 

 whichever oil \ou wish to u.se and bring to boil. Place nozzle of spray 

 pump into this mixture, and by pumping in the air you violently agitate it 

 for three or four minutes until it emulsifies. This will then mix with cold 

 water just like milk in tea. Use at the required strength. 



Manv growers have great diff.culty in getting the oil to mix, but I have 

 never found the above method fail when soft water has been used. 



Codlin Moth. — No grower should neglect to take every precaution 

 against an invasion of the codlin moth. Old second-hand cases are the 



