NOTES AND COMMENTS, 



sent durable labels for recording the 

 names of varieties of fruit trees planted 

 in the orchard. We usually have them 

 cut 5 or 6 inches long and about y% to 

 Yz inch broad. They can then be 

 wound about a limb in such a way as to 

 give with the growth, and thus be harm- 

 less. Often we fasten a zinc tag to the 

 trunk of a tree with a wire nail. 



Ink for writing on Zinc Labels. — 

 A good formula for writing on zinc 

 labels is made as follows : — 



Copper Sulphate. ... i oz. 



Lampblack /^ oz. 



Rainwater Y^ pint. 



Mr. G. C. Caston writes that he is 

 using this formula, and is much pleased 

 with it. We find an ordinary led pencil 

 makes an indelible mark on the zinc 

 labels, if they are first allowed to corrode 

 a little, and is more convenient than ink. 



Mr. H. H. Groff, of Simcoe, who 

 was doing such good work in horticul- 

 tural lines, in hibridizing Gladioli and 

 Cannas, and whose new creations were 

 taking a front place in the estimation of 

 gardeners, has accepted the position of 

 Manager of the Molson's bank of that 

 town, and is succeeded in his special 

 lines of bulb raising, by J. A. Campbell, 

 of Simcoe. We regret that so promis- 

 ing an originator of novelties should 

 have been thus tempted away from the 

 care of his floral treasures. 



Spraying with Bordeaux mixture (4 

 lbs. sulphate copper, 4lbs. lime, 40 gal- 

 lons water), seems to be a general panacea 

 for fungous diseases of plants generally, 

 such as mildew of grapes, rot of plum 

 and cherry, leaf blight of strawberry and 

 tomato, and even for tomato rot. This 

 latter, however, does not yield very easily 

 to treatment, and it is best to choose 

 such varieties for planting as are least 

 liable to the fungus. 



Kerosene Emulsion is the cure all 

 for such insects as plant lice, mealybug, 

 red spider, thrip, and scale insects of 

 all kinds — but for the latter a strong 

 solution is necessary. The formula is 

 ^Ib. hard soap ; i gallon boiling water ; 

 make strong soap-suds with soft water, 

 and add, kerosene, 2 gallons while boil- 

 ing stir well and an excellent emul- 

 sion will be formed. Dilute 4 to 25 

 times with water, before applying. 

 Pumps are now being made with kero- 

 sene attachment which mingle the kero- 

 sene with the water in the spray, and 

 thus save the trouble of making the 

 emulsion. The writer believes, from his 

 experience, that if a suffidently fine spray 

 of kerosene can be made, no dilution 

 with water is necessary. 



Wood Ashes have been recommend- 

 ed by some as a preventive of apple 

 scab, but it has been found by experi- 

 ments at the N. Y. Station, that ashes 

 applied to the soil have no value in this 

 direction. 



For Roses affected with the rose 

 aphis and thrips, we have been apply- 

 ing an exceedingly fine spray of pure 

 kerosene oil applied with a large tin 

 atomjzer known as the Mitchell hand- 

 sprayer. So far we have not observed 

 the least evil effects upon the bushes, 

 while the pests have disappeared like 

 magic. 



Mr. Alex. Veitch, the gardener at 

 the Gore, see June, 1897, says he has 

 resigned his position, and is open for an 

 engagement. His address is Orchard 

 House, Hamilton. 



The Greater Britain Exhibition 

 of 1899. — We have received a letter 

 from the authorities of the London Ex- 

 hibitions, Limited, to be held in Earl's 

 ^83 



