726 Journal of Agriculture. [jo Nov.. 1910. 



Paninnrc. — Pears heavy, cherries and plums good, but apples promise to be light. 



Portland. — Pears very good, apples fair, plums good. 



Rokewood Junction. — All stone fruits good, apples fair, pears heavy. 



Titnboon. — Apples a medium crop, pears heavy. 



Totnahazok Creek. — All fruits promise well, but will be late. 



Warncoort. — Pears, apricots, and apples, especially Jonathan, Newtown Pippin, 

 Keinette de Canada, and Rokewood, good. 



Werribcc. — Apricots a light crop, peaches ver\ good, pears and plums good, 

 apples light. 



ORCHARD AND GARDEN NOTES. 



E. E. Et'Si<i/l. Pri)icipaL Scl/ool of Horiicuhurc, BurnUv. 



The Orchard. 



Tilt exceptidiicil and un.sea.s()nal)lf rains of early October have yi\en the- 

 fruit trees an abiuuhtnt supply of moisture. The rains have also rendered 

 the work of spring ploughing a comparatively easy one. It has been feared 

 in some quarters that the excessive rains would interfere with the setting of 

 the fruit ; but these fears have not been realized. Pear trees generally 

 have set a heavy crop, while apples are considerably lighter. 



The soil should be occasionally cultivated in summer, so a.s to prevent 

 any surface caking. Cross harrowings are beneficial, as the whole <if the 

 orchard area comes under cultivation ; and the work of digging or hoeing 

 the strips between the trees is obviated. 



All weeds and foreign growths shouhl be rigorously kept out of the 

 orchard in summer, as they are great rol)l)ers of moisture. Also, they are 

 a harljour for such pests as cutworm moths and Rutherglen fly. The latter, 

 especially, is responsible for the loss of a large quantity of peaches and 

 apricots. 



Citrus trees mav now be planted out. 



(irafts, and young trees will all need attention now, by tying, protecting, 

 staking, and mulching. 



Vines and \nung fruit trees should be disbudded, so as to remove alt 

 superfluous shoots. 



CoDLiN Moth and other Pests. 

 As a preventive against the ("odlin Moth pest, spraying with ar.senate 

 of lead is now the recognised and only successful remedy. Analy.ses of 

 various brands were published last month by the Chemist for Agriculture, 

 and according to the list, the samples analysed show considerable variations. 

 Attention was drawn last year to a standard which was set up in the 

 American Bill dealing with this subject ; and it was shown that arsenate 

 of lead should not contain more than 50 per cent, of water or moisture : 

 more than 0.75 per cent, of water .soluble arsenic oxide; or less than i2| 

 per cent, of a total ar.senic oxide. This standard should be considered 

 when purchasing this mixture for orchard use. By the use of arsenate 

 of lead, the Codlin Moth pest is very easily kept in check, and from being^ 

 one of the most formidable of orchard troubles, it has come to be one of 

 the least feared of all pests. B}^ constantly spraying with arsenate of 

 lead, the use of bandages as a trap for the Codlin larvae is now quite 

 unnecessary. Tn fact, bandages, more often than not, become a harbour 

 and a breeding ground. Further, tht* time sj)i^'iit in o\erl( Hiking ami 



