126 Joiir/iii! of Ai/riciil/iu( . ]' irforia. [10 Feb., 1917. 



ORCHARD AND GARDEN NOTES. 



E. A". Pexf'itf, /■'./,.^'., I'limolni/isi , 



The Orchard. 



Young Trees. 



Young trees of tlie Citrus family should now be making a good, 

 tlirifty growth. The foliage should be glossy, and the general appear- 

 ance should be a bright green and healthy one. Occasional light 

 waterings, as well as mulching of grass, or of well-rotted manure, will 

 be helpful to the trees. 



Young deciduous fruit trees will also benefit by having a grass or 

 manure mulch ; and, if it has not previously been done, unnecessary 

 growths in the centre of the tree and on the main leaders should be 

 removed. 



Fumigation. 



Evergreen trees, including those of the citrus family, that are in- 

 fested with scale, should now be sprayed or fumigated to rid the trees 

 of this pest. For spraying, a weak red oil emulsion, lime and sulphur 

 spray, or resin wash will be found useful for the purpose. The most 

 successful method, however, of dealing with the scale pest is by fumiga- 

 tion. The trees should be closely envelo]>ed in an airtight sheet or 

 tent, and hydrocyanic gas should be generated inside. The chemicals 

 for generating the gas, as well as the fumes of the gas itself, are ex- 

 cessively dangerous, and great care should be exercised in their mani- 

 pulation. A wooden, enamel, or earthenware vessel is placed inside 

 the tent, the vessel containing a mixture of 4 fluid ounces of sulphuric 

 acid, and 12 fluid ounces of water, the acid being placed in the vessel 

 first. Four ounces of cyanide of potassium should then be quickly 

 dropped into the vessel, and the tent closed down at once; the bottom 

 of the tent all round should be covered with soil to prevent any of the 

 gas escaping. The operator must take care that not the slightest por- 

 tion of the fumes is loreathed. Fumigation should be carried out at 

 night-time or on a cloudy day, and the foliage of the trees must be 

 thoroughly dry. 



The Vegetable Garden. 



Celery crops will now be a prominent feature in the vegetable sec- 

 tion. The seed may be sown from Januai-y to March, and succession 

 plantings should be carried out occasionally during those months. The 

 growth of celerv should be quick ; a fair supply of water and a good 

 rich, loose soil are helpful to its growth. 



Ample water will now be required in the vegetable garden. The 

 surface should be kept well hoed, and mulchings of manure should be 

 given wherever possible. 



Cabbage, carrot, turnip, radish, lettuce, peas, cauliflower, &c., seeds 

 may now all be sown, and young plants from any seed beds may be 

 planted out. 



