SEPTEMBER 7, 1903. 
taining a great deal of information: 
partial analysis gave no indication of alca- 
Joid poison in the extract, thus apparently 
‘ndicating that there is no true’ poison 
present. Well-nourished cattle ‘or stock 
used to ‘a _ considerable mixture of 
edible and inedible plants, and which have 
learned to discriminate between them by 
cautious experimenting, will not touch 
dubious or dangerous herbage. But ill-fed 
stock, and such used to cultivated’ fodder 
only does so when pressed by hunger, just as 
men will. Therein lies one mode of avoid- 
ing evil results. Plants of the kind unsuit- 
able for food are provided by nature to 
bulbils, or’ minute bulbs, which form .in the 
axils of the leaves above the ground; while 
below it, the old tubers likewise are converted 
into such. ‘This is the cause of the rapid 
spreading of the plant in paddocks, where the 
natural herbage is kept low by.stock in the 
season of luxuriant growth, and neither 
pulling out of the plants, nor’ ploughing 
nor digging is effective, even when 
‘still young,’ as that ~ merely scatters the 
bulbils more. I am afraid that effective era- 
dication will prove too expensive, although 
bie Gape Tulip—Homeria @ollina, » 
prevent the ground becoming bare and 
barren through the removal of the useful 
ones, its fertility being largely due to the 
activity of vegetation directly and indirectly. 
Therefore, as_ the fodder plants disappear, 
room is made for the unfit ones, of which 
they promptly avail themselves. In the case 
of the Homeria (‘Cape Tulip”) the eradication 
by any other means than the choking of the 
plants by others, such as the Cape 
lion, etc. through permitting them “free 
growth for seyeral seasons wheré prac- 
tical, appears to be the only feasible 
Dande: 
a mode could be suggested,. and that’ the 
weed will have to run its course’ until the 
soil it affects becomes: unfit to support it 
from its. own . decayed leavings,. when the 
soil again will bear other plants in :exuber- 
ance.. - Gian’ chi much oeya7 Peo ate Tee 
» I. shall-be glad to. show. thé: pamphlet 
mentioned: to anyone-.at my. room: (No. 3). 
Public Library) and discuss the subject if 
desired, more fully... ; 
6p Poe sy, GeO TEPPER 
Norwood, Aug. AS, NG, “i 
‘THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. WaPo y fire os 
The ‘mode of - checking it: The © propa- ie a, 
gation is. not . only by seeds ~ or he ROE rchar : 
tubers, but by. exceedingly numerous small w EEK at 
C8 << COCCSs- 
PRUNING. - 
Sai a Wold LEEN ie edn ie et 
[From the “Agricultural Gazette,” N S.We] 
“One of the first things for the beginner 
to undertake, ashe approaches the practice 
of pruning trees and vines, is to form some 
conception of the purposes to ‘be served. 
Imitation is‘not the foundation of intelli- 
gent pruning, though it yields many yalu- 
able suggestions. Satisfactory work rests 
upon a coirect understanding of the 
reasons for each act, and to the attainment 
of this all study, obsérvation, and experi- 
ence should tend. Possessinz this, one can 
proceed capably, modifying method to. 
meet condition, and producing désirable 
results. Receive all suggestions, and then 
‘go quietly to the tree and study your pro- 
blem in its shade. ~The tree is the best 
revelator of its needs. Some of our best 
pruners afe.men who were untrained to 
horticulture before they entered upon 
their orchard work. ~ Reading, discussion, 
systematic instruction, are all valuable. 
They save much time and many errors; 
but recourse to the tree affords the 
sovereign test of attainment. These may 
be counted among the practical purposes 
to be attained by pruning: (a) Conveni- 
ence of the grower; (b) health and 
strength of the tree ; (c) regulation of heat 
and light; (d) attainment of strong bear- 
ing wood ; (e) attainment of size in fruit; 
and (f) promotion: of regular bearing. 
_ “On examining the tree, it will be found 
to be composed aboveground of a trunk 
from -which the main branches spring, 
which, in their turn, produce the laterals, 
on-which the shoots and spurs which bear 
the fruit are to ne found. Taking these 
points into consideration, one can hardly 
- fail to secure rays of light upon the sub- 
ject of pruning which seem dark to so 
many eee) w A Ee 
“Conyenience.—Trees which branch near 
the ground are most quickly and cheaply 
handled in all the operations of pruning, 
spraying, fruit thinning, and picking. 
Low trees with obliquely-rising branches 
are more easily cultivated than any form 
with: horizontal branches, unless the head 
is carried so high that the teams pass easily 
under the tree... To. do-thig sacrifice all 
the other conveniences :and: economies 
which actually determine _ profit, and -is 
really out of the question from a commer- 
Clalspoint Ot vicgware ses fp ae eee 
~ “Health and Strength.—-It is imperative 
in most’ parts of this State that the sun- 
shine be nob allowed to touch the ‘bark’ 
during the heat of the day. This protec- 
tion is secured even for young trees by low” 
branching. The’ low tree with properly 
spaced branches attains superior strength 
by virttic of thick, strongly knit, short 
growth” between brariches, “and by its’ 
strong, stiff, obliquely-rising “growth sus 
