OKANGES AND LEMONS IN AUSTRALASIA. 473 



SIZE OP OEANGEEIES. 



The oransre groves in Australia vary la size from I to 200 acres. 

 Orange and lemon trees are seldom however planted so as to form 

 groves of either of these trees exclusively other fruit trees are inter- 

 spered, called here " summer fruits," such as peaches, apricots, passion, 

 and other fruits. The average holdings vary from 6 to 20 acres in extent. 



AGE OF FRUIT TREES. 



It is said orange and lemon trees do not come into full bearing 

 until ten or twelve years after they are planted, although they may 

 commence bearing in the fifth year. 



INSECT PESTS. 



Mr. Charles Moore, director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney, informs 

 me " that the insects that attack the orange tree are the common small 

 white scale, the brown scale, and the smooth surface white coccus." 

 These insects have at times made great ravages among the orange 

 groves and orchards. Experienced growers keep their trees compara- 

 tively free from these insects. It is very generally believed that the 

 ravages of these pests are due to defective cultivation. Mr. C. Moore 

 states that various remedies- have been employed in Australia to get 

 rid of the attacks of insects. 



The principal remedy being Fiahurst'a compound, but the resnlts have not been 

 commensurate with the coat attending the use of such compounds. There is no 

 doubt many of the compounds will destroy the insects, bat their use in a large way 

 is impracticable. The best remedy in my opinion is to improve the cultivation, as 

 healthy plants will throw off all pests. 



Mr. Grichton recommends that care be exercised in preparing and 

 draining the ground before planting the trees. His experience is that 

 when this is done and the trees are fed well and mulched before dry 

 weather sets in disease, insects, and fungoid pests seldom cause trouble 

 in an orangery. According to the same authority the remedies gener- 

 ally employed for scale are lime, sulphur, soft soap, whale-oil soap, kero- 

 sene, tobacco water, and various patent insecticides; also quassia water 

 is safe and good. 



He recommends the following remedies as afibrding better results 

 than any others hitherto tried: (1) Arsenical compounds ; (2) petroleum, 

 and (3) pyrethrum, and says : 



The first acts through the stomach, and is effectual chiefly against mandibular in- 

 sects ; the second and third act by contact, and are therefore of more general appli- 

 cation. 



Mr. Gharles Moore does not think that the fluted or cottony cushion 

 scale, which has proved so destructive to orchards in Galifornia, has 

 attacked the orange and lemon trees to any great extent in this colony, 

 and this opinion he also expressed in 1886, and which was reported by 



