1 Aprit, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 311 
come and go before such magnificent trees as we have seen even in the close 
neighbourhood of Brisbane can be reproduced? ‘T'o depend on foreign countries 
or our supplies is to depend upon a broken reed. The vast forests of North 
merica, Canada, Oregon, British Columbia, and Vancouver are being destroyed 
wholesale. ‘There is nothing to take their place. The great forests of South 
America cannot furnish us with our requirements. But we have the means in 
our own hands of keeping up our supplies for all time, and it is the duty of 
every citizen of the State to help in the work, and to do so before irreparable 
damage has been done. 
A Parliamentary return in connection with the Woods and Forests 
Department of South Australia shows that for twenty years, ending 30th June, 
1896, the expenditure on natural forest management was £44,626 7s. 8d.; on 
establishing plantations, £55,45L 19s. 5d.; on rearing and distributing trees 
gratis, £26,101 5s.; in experimental and ornamental planting, £9,160 7s. L1d.; 
total, £135,340. ‘The revenue derived from natural forest management—rents 
and sales of timber, £117,904; from plantation timber, £1,000; valuation of 
existing plantations (6,751 acres), £120,000; value of 4,000,000 trees given 
away at 2d. per tree (exclusive of vines), £33,000. The balance in favour of 
the department is £136,564. 
General Notes. 
ORANGE SCALE. 
Mr. A. H. Beso, in response to inquiries by ‘ Orange Grower,’ 
following information :— 
Citrus trees, when making a vigorous and strong growth, are sometimes 
able to throw off scale insects, but this only takes place when the roots of the 
trees are thoroughly healthy and the trees are planted in a soil that has a 
perfect natural drainage. : 
In the ease of “ Orange Grower’s”’ trees, it is probable that the subsoil ig 
more or less retentive, even though it is scrub land and on the side of a ridge. 
Continuous and heavy rain would be likely to injure citrus trees in such 
soil and induce the propagation of scale insects, especially White Seale. All 
citrus trees are prone to become scale-infested when grown under conditions 
that are at all conducive to the retention of stagnant water round the roots 
of the trees. 
We would suggest to those who wish for instruction and assistance 
’ 
supplies the 
in the important work of fruit-growing to communicate directly . with. 
Mr. Benson or with the Under Secretary for Agriculture, and also that 
they give their names, and full particulars of the locality of their orchards or 
gardens, such as district, aspect, soil, subsoil, rainfall, &e. It is difficult for 
the most expert professional to give precise directions for manipulating fruit 
trees, unless precise information such as we have indicated is furnished. 
THISTLES V. RAPE. 
A conrEesronDENT of an English paper says that he has discovered that if you 
have a field infested with thistles, all you have to do is to sow it with rape. 
The thistles will be absolutely annihilated. 
kage ae 
