574 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Sept., 1919. 



That dairying does not pay is a common cry, and, unfortunately, 

 many who utter it are speaking out of their experience. But they are 

 making a wrong generalization, for in ninety-nine out of every hundred 

 of such cases, the failure, or partial failure, has resulted from their 

 haphazard methods. The key to profitable dairying is the testing of 

 cows, yet on most farms it is neglected. The other suggestions in 

 these notes for proper feeding and sheltering of cows are scarcely of 

 less importance; and with our uncertain seasons, every farmer who 

 hopes for success must make reasonable provision in case of drought. 



ORCHARD NOTES. 



E. S. Pescott, F.L.S., Pomologist. 



The Orchard. 



Sprayikg. 



The peach aphis will now have made its appearance in orchards which 

 were not sprayed with the red oil emulsion in the winter. The tobacco 

 solution will now be required, and this may be sprayed on as strongly 

 as the giowei wishes. If possible, a second spraying should be repeated 

 quickly after the first operation, so as to kill any aphides previously 

 protected by the others, or any that may have only been weakened by 

 the first operation. 



The time has also arrived when spraying is needful for the pre- 

 tention of all fungus diseases, such as shothole or scab, black spot, leaf 

 rust, leaf curl, &c. In the case of these pests, " prevention better than 

 cure " is the invariable rule ; and to delay beyond the correct period 

 the application of the necessary sprays is to court disaster. For black 

 spot of the apple and pear, the spraying should be performed as soon 

 as the earliest flowers are opening. For shothole and scab the time 

 to spray is before the flower petals expand ; and the spraying may be 

 repeated, if necessary, after the fruit has set. 



For rust and leaf curl the spray should be applied before any sign 

 of the trouble appears on the foliage; thus, if the fungus were present 

 during the previous season, it will be necessary to spray early to combat 

 it successfully. 



The basis of all the successful fungicides is sulphate of copper or 

 bluestone. Bordeaux mixture (a mixture of bluestone, lime, and 

 water, known as the 6.4.40 formula), is used; the materials and quan- 

 tities being 6 lbs. bluestone, 4 lbs. lime, and 40 gallons water. 



Another spray, and in some locations equally successful in its re- 

 sults as the Bordeaux mixture, is the copper-soda spray, the propor- 

 tions being 6 lbs. bluestone, 8 lbs. washing soda, and 40 gallons of 

 water. In each case the materials should be separately dissolved, and 

 then evenly and simultaneously mixed in a third vessel. 



It is verv urgent that' the lime should be throuohly fresh and quick, 

 otherwise the si)rav mixtures will give verv inferior results. A second 

 necessary point is that the copper sprays should be used as soon as tliey 

 are made. Where the grower does not wisli to ma' e his own sprav, there 

 are quite a number of readv-made Bordeaux pastes and Bordeaux mix- 

 tures already on the market, which can be used with satisfactorv results. 

 In fact, the use of these has become fairl/ general, and it is not tu>\v 

 the practice for growers to mak«^ tlieir own spravs. 



