JULY 1, 1902. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER, 
15 
to their destruction. In this case there is 
n» attractive secretion, and no movement 
on the part of the plant. And Kerner 
points out that many plants have simple 
contrivances for holding water upon their 
leaves, and glands suitable to imbibe this 
water, and as these little reservoirs often 
contain insects, it is probable that the 
plants get a little extra nitrogen even in 
this simple manner. 
Following the insectivorous plants 
comes a section upon Parasites, from 
 parasitical fungi to the Rafflesia, with a 
flower a yard across. In this country we 
have a parasite binding together large 
areas of native shrubs, either the imported 
Dedder or the native Cassytha, I have not 
examined it sufficiently to say which it 
is. We have also a Broom-rane (Oro- 
banche Australiana), growing freely at 
Brighton. It has a succulent stout stem 
aud purple-blue flowers. It would be in- 
teresting to ascertain upon what root it is 
parasitic. 
The parasitic Langsdorffia of Central 
America has between. the bundles of its 
stem a wax-like matter, which is collected 
and used for making wax candles. In 
Java a similar wax is obtained from 
another parasite, Balanophora elongata. 
These Balanophore are of very rapid 
growth. “Imagine,” says Kerner, “the sur- 
prise of a traveller upon seeing hundreds 
af these brown, scaly cones grow up sud- 
denly, in the course of a night. following 
some days of rain, from the subterranean 
roots of the trees. A day or two later this 
garden of Lophophyla presents an alto- 
gether different picture. The brown 
scales have fallen off. and with them the 
envelope which had concealed the flowers. 
The female flowers are on the lower part, 
arranged in spherical deep-yellow or 
orange heads; the male flowers are above 
in less crowded heads, and of a pale 
yellow.” : 
The stem of another Lophovhytum is 
“yale reddish-violet, the bract scales gam- 
boge. the ovaries yellowish, the styles red, 
and the stigmas white.” 
The tubers are eaten by the youths “to. 
bring luck and agility in hunting, fishing, 
and dancing, and to enable them to win 
the affection of the maidens they admire.” 
Another allied parasite, Lathrophytum 
peckoltii, is “the sole instance of a flower- 
ing plant entirely destitute of all struc- 
tures of the nature of leaves. with the ex- 
ception of stamens and ovaries. No trace 
of a scale or even a swelling or rim that 
might be looked upon as a degenerate 
leaf.” 
The Rafflesia, already alluded to, is a 
parasite on the roots of vines, and puts out: 
flower buds the size of a walnut. These 
grow into a cabbage-like form, and when 
the bracts turn back the flower grows 
rapidly, unfolds and displays five immense 
lobes round a central bowl or cup-shaped | 
portion. The giant flower when open is 
best likened to a forget-me-not blossom.” 
It is confined to Sumatra. 
(To be Continued). 
THE ORCHARD. 
PLANTING FRUIT-TREES. 
Mr. G. Quinn, Horticultural Instructor 
for South Australia, has written an article 
of special interest to gardeners. It 
appeared in “The Adelaide Chronicle,’” 
from which we extract the following: 
Land intended for planting should be 
thoroughly prepared some time beforehand, 
and if it be virgin scrub or forest land a 
crop of cereals or vegetables should be 
taken off before planting  fruit-trees. 
Heavy clay soils are not the most suitable 
for fruit-trees, but should such be used pro- 
vision must be made for under drainage. 
In all cases the land should be broken up 
thoroughly, keeping the subsoil in its natu- 
ral position. In large plantations this is 
best done by a strong subsoil plough fol- 
lowing in the ordinary turning plough’s 
furrow, thus disturbing the soil to a depth 
of 18 in. or 20-in. Soils that are satura- 
ted and boggy in winter in spite of drain- 
ing should not be planted. Frosts are 
usually more severe and late in low-lying 
flats; consequently these should be avoid- 
ed as far as practicable, and gentle undu- 
lations, or hillside slopes be chosen. Peach, 
apricot, cherry, and all the citrus fruits do 
not thrive in cold saturated soils, but re- 
quire well-drained situations. Plums will 
withstand more moisture in the soil than 
any other fruits. Pears and quinces may 
be said to come next, while apples produc- 
ing fruits desired for their long-keeping 
qualities should not be grown in very damp 
situations. In nearly every locality a wind- 
break is necessary, and if it be at all pos- 
sible a good belt of trees—not a couple of 
rows—should be planted; or if natural 
timber be present, a strip, say of two or 
three chains wide, should be retained on 
the sides exposed to cold, cutting, or hot, 
withering winds. In many places the area 
is limited, and paling or galvanised iron 
fences may be put up, close to which, on 
the inside, rows of almonds or loquats, 
should be planted closely together, as they 
will pay for the space which they occupy 
and give shelter-as well. Barrels or sugar 
baskets placed around the trees are not 
good protectors, as they tend to “draw” the 
growths up in a weakly condition. 
The ultimate dimensions of the trees 
‘should be considered in connection with 
the soil and other conditions when ylant- 
ing. as in rich soils the trees will grow 
strongly and spread over a much wider 
area than in those of a poor quality. For 
the convenience of working. the trees 
should be planted either on the “square” 
or septuple systems; they also permit an 
even distribution of light and air between 
the trees. About 20 ft. apart can be 
taken as a suitable distance to plant apples, 
pears, plums, cherries, peaches, apricots. 
oranges, and lemons on the average soils of 
South Australia, but in richer soils greater 
spaces are necessary, unless the trees are 
iudiciously pruned. At 20 ft. apart about 
108 trees can be set out on an acre; 24 ft.. 
75 trees; and at 30 ft.,48 trees. In small 
home gardens where space is limited, trees 
may be set at 16 ft., or even less, but 
they require accurate pruning in summer 
and winter to keep them within bounds. 
Jn commercial fruit-growing there are in- 
dications that the.profitable trees of the 
future will be of a smaller type, and con- 
sequently will be grown in closer order 
than heretofore. Citrus trees may be 
planted in the early autumn or early 
spring. These are the times when they 
begin to make young growth. They should 
be lifted as soon as the buds begin to 
lengthen in the axils of the leaves. If 
there is young growth an inch or more _ 
long, nip it off. If the root system js 
much broken, cut back the top in propor- 
tion immediately after transplanting. AI- 
ways give these trees a good soaking of 
water as soon as they are planted. 
Deciduous trees and vines should be set 
out in the autumn, as soon as the leaves 
will rub off easily. They then make young 
roots to replace the damaged ones before 
the soil becomes too cold. The trees should 
be purchased from a reliable nurseryman 
who has a reputation and trade to lose if he 
defrauds the purchaser in respect to the ac: 
curacy of names, stocks used, &. Iu 
selecting the various trees, see that the 
plums are worked on myrobalan stocks, not 
on common plum seedlings or suckers. 
Pears should be on pear seedling stocks, 
and apples should be: double worked, or 
worked on growths from blight-proof roots 
not less than 6 in. above the surface of the 
ground. The reason for this is that trees 
worked lower are apt, if covered by soil or 
mulch as high as the union, to send out 
adventitious roots, and thus discard the 
original blight-proof roots. The apricot is 
best upon apricot roots, and peach upon 
peach; but at the same time, in very dry 
soils, apricots may be put on almond, and 
peaches upon plum stocks for very wet, cold 
localities; but neither can be claimed as 
a commercial success. Every precaution 
against the introduction of pests should be 
taken, and if the trees on arrival at the 
orchard could be completely submerged in a 
strong solution of tobacco and soap mix- 
ture for about 15 minutes much vermin 
would be avoided. Citrus trees could be 
treated with strong resin wash to destroy 
scale insects. The nurseryman who fumi- 
gates his trees with hydo-cyanic acid gas 
before sending them out will prevent the 
necessity for all this trouble. In selecting 
trees, do not be misled by their sizes, as a_ 
medium-sized, stout, clean-barked tree js 
always more satisfactory than a skyscraper. 
A tree composed of one straight clean stem 
is desirable, as then the grower can cut 
the stem to a suitable length and form the 
trunk in keeping with requirements. 
About “knee high” is a good useful length 
to sever the stem to frame a sturdy weight- 
resisting tree. This will ayoid the forma- 
tion of weakly forks, as the arm 
junctions swell with growth. The roots 
of the young trees should receive attention. 
If the trees have been out of the soil for 
a few hours pretty well all the fibrous roots 
will perish ; consequently, under such con- — 
