654 Journal of Agriculture. [11 Oct., 1909. 



ORCHARD NOTES. 



/. Croiiiii, /'riiicipal, Scl/ool of Horticulture, Burnley. 



Present indications and reports point to a prolific and profitable season. 

 Stone fruits have set well in most districts, and apples, pears, &c., promise 

 a fair crop, even where heavy vields were obtained last season. Frost, 

 hail, or very heavy winds may diminish the promise, or the thrips, so fatal 

 to the setting of Five Crown Pippin, Rome Beautv, and other late blooming 

 varieties of apples in occasional seasons, may again be in evidence should 

 favourable weather for the pest occur, and the fruit-grower be powerless 

 to avert ensuing damage. These non-combatable agents are fortunately of 

 rare occurrence, and there is nothing at present to denote clanger for the 

 season. The careful orchardist also knows the risks he may take in 

 dealing with what are practically certain foes to his profit-earning fruits. 

 Black spot, aphis of kinds, and codlin moth are factors that require to be 

 dealt with in no uncertain manner, and the latter, especially, is often mis- 

 understood and levies a heavy toll on the crop. 



As codlin moth is the most common pest of apples and pears in all parts 

 of the State, and one of the most difficult to deal with, a deal has been 

 written from time to time respecting the means and measures likely to 

 subdue it. The life history has been described often, the insect is now 

 well known l)v most orchardists, and the spray washes calculated to destroy 

 it — either home-made or proprietary — have been tested and the results 

 made public. There is no need to enter into details in some particulars of 

 the treatment ; in others much has vet to be explained for the benefit of 

 beginners and a few others. ShortI\ , the programme is : — The destruction 

 of the hibernating insects, i.e., the grubs or caterpillars, hiding in the trees, 

 fruit cases, packing, and store-houses, &c. ; spraying the trees caxefully 

 with an arsenical preparation before the fruit is attacked by the insects 

 that survive the " spring cleaning " ; the trapping, by means of bands ap- 

 plied to the trees, of the few that may escape arsenical poisoning ; the 

 destruction of "grub" infested fruit; and by again spraying to poison 

 any that may attack the fruit during summer. 



The most important of the points mentioned are the form of arsenical 

 wash and its application. Home-made arsenites are often unsafe, on 

 account of the damage that may be caused by their use to the foliage, the 

 fruit, or even voung woody tissue. Manv cases have occurred where the 

 entire crop of fruit and the whole of the leaves have been destroyed bv 

 one caustic application. At one time, Paris green was the standard mix- 

 ture, now the most effective and safest preparation is arsenate of lead. 

 Arsenate of lead is prepared from arsenate of soda and acetate of lead in 

 certain proportions, but the chemical problems involved in its manufacture 

 are bevond an ordinary orchardist, and it is safer and wiser to purchase 

 the material ready for use. Arsenate of lead is a chemical combination 

 and not a .secret preparation. .\ sample or brand may be chemically pure 

 and yet inferior to another sample l>v reason of containing an excessive 

 amount of moisture. A fair sample that will be effective when used at the 

 rate of two pounds to fifty gallons of water should not contain moisture 

 in excess of 46 per cent., anil should contain about 19.5 per cent, of 

 arsenous acid. Many brands are now on sale, including several prepared 

 in Victoria. There appears to l)e no reason whatever why a locally pre- 

 pared brand should not be as safe and effective as one prepared in America 

 or elsewhere, and it is very likelv that anv doubt in that direction will be 



