77° Journal of Agriculture. [lo Dec, 1909. 



•of tlie soil, tlie dfyiies.s or otherwise of the weather, as well as the 

 latitude and situation of the orchard. Tiiese and other considerations must 

 all be taken into account by the operator. Generallv speaking, as has before 

 been stated, it is advisable to i)erform the operation at a time when the re- 

 maining terminal bud will not break out into new growth. Fi-om December 

 to February apples and pears may be treated, according to climate and 

 weather conditions. Apricots and peaches need summer pruning much 

 earlier. Some operators have laid it down as a rule that any tree requiring 

 summer pruning may be pruned just before the crop commences to ripen. 

 This, again, may suit some seasons, but nob others, 'i'o pre\ent the re-growth 

 of the lateral, it has been recommended to merely fracture the portion to be 

 removed later, and leave it hanging on the tree. This certainly will he effective ; 

 but it gives the orchaid a very untidy appearance. It also leaves much 

 moi^e work for the pruner in the winter time, and this is one of the things 

 that summer pruning is intended to obviate. A careful study of his varieties, 

 localit}', soil, and annual climatic conditions, will verv soon give the operator 

 such power over his ti-ees that summer pruning will become a regular part 

 of his orchard routine. 



Fruit Prosi'Ects 



The reports of fruit prospects have come to hand, and it is found that the 

 crop in general will not be so heavy as was at first anticipated. There was 

 a splendid show of blossoms, but it was hardly to be expected that the crop 

 could amount to anything like last year's returns. Still, the returns promise 

 to be far above the average of seasons, and thus prospects aie very 

 .satisfactory. 



VEGETABLE PESTS. 



C . [''rciicl!. Jiinr., Assistant Government l'lntO)noloi^ist. 



So manv specimens of insect and other pests of \arious kinds which 

 attack vegetables are being forwarded for identification that it has been 

 deemed ad\isal)le to comjjile a few notes on some of the more common of 

 these pests. This season promises to l)e a \erv favourable one for the 

 de\elopment and spreading of insects, and if steps are not soon taken, 

 many of the vegetable crops will be adversely affected. 



As many new mixtures for spraying have been placed on the market 

 •during the past \ear, sexeral experiments have been conducted by the 

 Entomological Branch in connexion wdth the extermination of pests. As 

 some of the mixtures have proved successful, it is well to know at the 

 beginning of the season what are the best materials to use. 



Thrips. — Thrips are now about in countless numbers, and are causing 

 the flowers on earlv tomato plants to turn brown, shrivel up. and fall. 

 They also attack the flowers of beans, peas, &c. ; in fact, almost every 

 kind of flower, therein' causing considerable damage. This insect is a 

 mo.st difficult one to deal with on account of the habit it has of crawling 

 into the centre of the flower; but such plants as tomatoes, jjcas, and beans 

 ■can be more readilv treated. 



The following remedies have proved successful: — 



Benzole emulsion. — This is a patent preparation, and can be purchased 

 at any of the leading seed .shops in Melbourne. One tin full (i 11>.), when 

 diluted, makes 20 gallons of sprav. The smell of the benzole remains on 

 the plants for several dnvs. 



