514 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Aug., 1909. 



subject from time to time in the pdges of this Journal. Readers are 

 referred to Mr. Carmoflx s articMe. " Raising an Export Apple Orchard," 

 which appeared in the number for July. 1908. for an exhaustive and 

 illustrated explanation of the subject. For the purpose of these Notes it is 

 sufficient to mention a few points of importance that are frequently over- 

 looked. 



It is generally accepted that the best possible design for any fruit tree 

 is that which will enable the grower to easily work the soil near the trees 

 with horse implements, to spray, thin, and pick the fruit without use of 

 steps, &c., to force the tree to carry its crop on its strong branches where 

 it is safe against ordinary winds, and where it is the least strain in every 

 wav on the energy of the tree. The first steps to secure such a tree are to 

 plant only those with low formed heads, i.e., with a trunk not more than 

 eighteen inches long, and to cut back the branches severeh until the desired 

 form is obtained. A s\stem of ten or twelve branches rising from the 

 trunk at an angle of 45 degrees or thereabouts, and continued at that angle, 

 with the branches well spaced and strong, and the weaker lateral shoots 

 retained intact, especially in the lower portions of the tree, \\\\\ provide a 

 specimen capable of bearing at maturity six or eight cases of fine fruit 

 with the least possible waste of energy. 



Some common errors in design of trees, particuhirly pear trees, nxay l)e 

 mentioned. A central system of strong straight branches is left, and. 

 as a consequence, a horizontal or depressed and weakened series of branches 

 are produced on the outside. The reverse is the correct method, and the 

 more any tree, of any genus or species whatever, tends to produce strong 

 upright shoots, the more necessary it becomes to begin at the beginning and 

 to force the production of strong branches in an oblique direction on the 

 outside, with an open or much weaker centre. In the latter case, the 

 tendency is to the production of spurs and light laterals in the lower por- 

 tions of the tree that will produce fruit regularly, and retain their vitality 

 for many years; in the former it is certain that the lower parts will become 

 barren on account of a rush of sap to the extreme points of the straight 

 strong shoots, and, finally, the crop will be borne on the parts least able 

 to bear a strain, alx)ve the reach and control of the grower, where winds 

 have full effect, and farthest from the sap supply — the roots of the tree. 

 It may not be out of place here to mention two books on pruning, written 

 specially for the conditions obtaining in the temperate parts of Australia, 

 one bv Mr. G. Quinn, the other bv Mr. W. J. Allen, and published by 

 the Departments of Agriculture of South Australia and New South Wales 

 respectively. They are the l)est, most reliable, and cheapest works on the 

 subject, and shuuld be in the possession of every orchardist and amateur 

 fruit culturist. 



Emulsions prejiared from red oil and crude petroleum are the most 

 popular and valuable washes against sucking insects on deciduous trees 

 during the dormant season. When growth fairly commences in spring, and 

 during summer, damage to the trees is likeU to follow applications of such 

 washes, but trees devoid of foliage may \v safelv treated if a proper 

 mixture is made. The oil washes n.ay be considered as a substitute for 

 lime, sulphur, and salt wash, exceit in resjject of the action of the latter as 

 a fungicide, a point that is now scarcely worth)- of consideration on ac-count 

 of the value of Bordeaux mixture for that ]>urpose. The oils are more 

 easilv prepared, are cheaper, more pleasant to apply and handle, and not at 

 all destructive to the parts of a spray-pumi) as is the time, sulphur, and salt 



