10 May, 1917.] 



Apple Culture in Victoria. 



29S 



(Quercus), and Oriental Planes {Platamis orientalis) are occasionally 

 planted to prevent the winds sweeping u]) the slo{je. These trees are, 

 however, more suitable for street and park planting as decorative sun- 

 shades. 



Evergreens are as a lule more suitable for orchard shelters than deci- 

 duous trees, as the latter are rarely in leaf early enough to protect the 

 blossoms of the fruit trees, and this is one of the most important func- 

 tions of the break-wind. 



The accompanying illustrations ?how some of the break-winds in most 

 general use. 



Plate 83 shows a well-grown Sugar Gum {Eiiculijptus corynocali/x) 

 hedge. It is a free grower, and tlirives well under our various soil and 

 climatic conditions. This hedge runs east to west, and shelters the 

 orchard mostly from north winds. The Sugar Gum makes a first-class 

 break-wind, and is quickly coming into prominence as such. 



Plate 90. — Cherry Plum (I'nutiis ccrasifcra). 



If left to its own resources while young, however, the hedge will be 

 rather open near the ground as may be observed in the illustration 

 under review. 



Plate 84 illustrates a young hedge of the same variety, and the 

 method of cutting back the trees, for a few years, while they are 

 young, is indicated. After the hedge has thickened near the ground 

 in this manner, it requires no further attention, and the i-esult usually 

 is all that can be desired. 



Plate 85 is Pittosporum {Pitiosporum undulatum), which affords 

 good shelter. It likes fairly rich, moist, but well-drained land. Like 

 the Sugar Gum, it grows freely from seed, and requires but little 

 trimming as an orchard shelter. Its range of usefulness, as a break- 

 wind, is considerably restricted on account of its antipathy to poor dry 

 soils. 



Plate 86 is prickly Acacia (Acaciti armata). This, being a hardy 

 dense, rapid-growing, indigenous shrub, makes a splendid shelter, wliicii 



