4o6 ] ounial oj Agriculture. [lo June, 1910. 



profitable if planted for a succession. A great deal of attention is paid to 

 new varieties ; and it is to be regretted, that, in the search for newer 

 varieties, which are so often a failure, the older, and more valuable 

 varieties may be lost sight of altogether. Among these are many that 

 have been proved for many years to be valuable ac(]uisitions to the fruit- 

 grower. A few may be mentioned. 



Pears. — St. Michael Archangel is a pear grown in but few districts in 

 Victoria. It is a fairly large sized pear, well coloured, and possessing a 

 fine juicy flesh with an excellent first-class flavour. As its time of blossom- 

 ing generally synchronises with that of Kieffer's Hybrid, it is valuable 

 for cross fertilization purposes. 



Bakehouse's Bergamot is a Tasmanian seedling, of medium size, a good 

 cropping tree, and p<"<ssessing one of the finest fla\-ours to be found in any 

 pear. 



Embassy is a seedling raised by the late Mr. Charles Draper. The 

 tree is a heavy bearer, and the fruit is of a beautiful ruby-red colour. It 

 is called by some a red Beurre Capiaumont. The flesh and flavour are 

 first class. 



Twyford's Monarch is another excellent ])ear, juicy, medium size, and 

 of a most rich and delicate flavour. 



Triomphe de Jodoigne is a very large coarse looking pear, but possess- 

 ing no coarseness whatever. The flesh is firm and juicy, and of more 

 than first-class flavour. 



Apples. — Calville Blanche d'Hiver is a very fine apple, valuable as 

 being a very late variety, culinary iii winter, and a dessert variety in early 

 spring. 



Granny Smith, and Trivett's Seedling are worthy of a place in every 

 garden, and are becoming more popular in Victoria every year. 



Spraying. 



All the winter pests will now come in for attention and trees should 

 be freed as far as possible from all classes of scale insects, bryobia mite, 

 woolly aphis, &c. The red oil or crude petroleum emulsion is most suit- 

 able for the eradication of these pests. 



Spraying before pruning is not the general rule ; and yet it .seems to 

 be the safest, especially where scales or woolly aphis are prevalent. Cer 

 tainly, a much larger amount of spray material will be required ; but much 

 better work will be done. There will be no danger whatever from future 

 contamination from any of these pests on the undestroyed prunings ; or 

 from any small clippings that may be lying ungathered around the tree. 

 Another point in favour of this is that, if by any means, whether by care- 

 less spraying or by the use of bad materials, any part of the tree is left, 

 so that the pest is not destroyed, and .so continues to increase, then a second 

 spraying can be given while the tree is still dormant. 



Drainage. 

 In old established orchards, a thorough scheme of drainage does more 

 to invigorate and resuscitate the trees than any amount of surface cultiva- 

 tion or manuring. This work is easier done in June and July j and where 

 necessary, it should be started at once. Drainage pipes are more generally 

 used, but stones, logs, waste timber, brushwood, and charcoal are all 

 valuable as drainage mediums. The benefits of soil drainage have been 

 so frequently urged, that it is hardly necessary to repeat them again. 



