20 
‘it be allowed to ferment, or its manurial 
Properties will be weakened. It is applied 
at the rate of from 20 to 30 tons to the 
acre; a ton containing about 80 per cent. 
of water, about 0.4 per cent. nitrogen, 0.7 
per cent. potash, and 0.1 per cent. of 
phosphoric acid. Seaweed is therefore 
what is known as a potassic manure. It 
also supplies the soil with a large amouut 
of humus, thus improving its physical 
properties, It is not, however, so well 
balanced as ordinary barnyard manure, 
_and to get the best results it should be 
used in combination with a bone or 
phosphate manure; it has the great ad- 
vantagein its freedom from weed, seeds, in- 
sects, and the germs of plant diseases. It 
is most valuable for potatoes, and is said 
to decrease scab in thetubers. There can 
be no doubt, therefore, that seaweed has 
a value as a garden manure, especially on 
sandy soils, and for leguminous crops. It 
should be wheeled on to the ground in 
the autumn, and dug in early. If mixed 
with barnyard manure it may be allowed 
to stay in a heap until the whole is rotten 
and fit for application in the spring. 
Generally, however, those who use it 
prefer to apply it in the autumn, so that 
it may have time to decay before the crops 
are planted in the spring. 
; — Australasian,’ 
Improvement of 
Soils. 
Orchard 
Where the soil of the orchard is harsh 
and parched, its condition and moisture- 
retaining properties can be improved 
vastly by means of green manuring. Trials 
at the various Departmental orchards 
have demonstrated that in all but citrus 
orchards, crops of the pea family, sown in 
_ autumn and turned under just when they 
attain the blossoming stage in early spring 
are productive of excellent results. Slap- 
dash methods cannot be adopted, how- 
ever, in connection with the sowing of 
field peas or vetches in run-out soils. For 
one thing the seed is pretty expensive, 
and unless the ground is prepared care- 
fully and a little stimulant in the way 
of a dusting with bone-meal or superphos- 
phate is added, there will not be much 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
green stuff to turn under. But if the 
ground is well prepared, and it is borne 
in mind that whatever slowly-soluble 
phosphatic manure is put in at sowing 
time will be merely converted for the 
requirements of the fruit-trees, satisfactory 
results may follow. 
Several seasons ago comparative ex- 
periments were carried out at the 
different orchards, and the balance of 
opinion was in favour of vetches or tares, 
which not only produced the most 
luxuriant mass of easily turned-under 
green stuff, but possessed the deepest 
root-system with the peculiar function of 
nitrogen-gathering exerted to a great 
degree. 
The quantity of seed per acre, where 
trees are planted 20 feet by 20 feet, is 
about 2 bushels, but the quantity of fer- - 
tiliser added, must be regulated by the 
condition of the soil. Under fair con- 
ditions ? to 1 cwt. of superphosphate of 
bone-meal per acre should suffice, bui in 
some cases it would, undoubtedly, pay to 
add twice that quantity of bone-dust in 
order to enliven the soil. 
—‘ Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W.’ 
Interesting Orchard Notes. 
By the time the Mildura lemons are 
ready to pick it is estimated that this 
State will have dispatched to Victoria 
quite 4,000 cases of the fruit. 
* * * * * 
As soon as any part of the orchard is 
is pruned, gather up the prunings, and 
work the land. as a thorough winter 
weathering of the soil is very beneficial in 
its effects. - 
* * * * * * 
Lemon growers this year hope to profit 
considerably through the heavy require- 
ments of Victoria. Already they are 
experiencing the benefit due to the fact 
that the South Australian fruit ripens 
about a month earlier than that of 
Victoria. Mildura lemons are not yet 
quite ready for market, but in the méan- 
time the heavy demand is being met by 
the South Australian product. 
eee t: * * ® * 
Tropical fruits are an acquired taste 
and retailers say they cannot undertake 
June 1, 1909: 
EEE 
the risk of buying and waiting for the 
acquirement to take place. Tomatoes are 
an acquired taste, and many years ago @ 
man who induced a friend to eat one was 
chased by the latter, armed with a shovel, 
for two days afterwards; the friend 
thought an attempt had been made to 
poison him. Tomatoes are now grow), 
sold, and eaten by the ton; and perhaps 
it would happen the same way if some 
tropical dainties were introduced. When 
bananas first went into England in useful 
quantities, about thirty years ago, sales 
were very tardy; since then fortunes have 
been made by importing the fruit. 
* * * * cd TAS 
‘ There are several kinds of Queensland 
tropical fruits we could import, says 4 
Western Market trader, ‘if the public 
taste for them were to develop. Amongst 
the best kinds are paw-paw, genadillo, 
custard apple, mango. guava, and other 
fruits. Sume of these would probably 
grow here. ‘Last year,’ he continued, 
“an importer brought over 100 cases of 
mangoes. He sold a few at 4/6 per case} 
some went for 2/6, and the rest were 
given to the man who carts away the 
refuse. The demand was nil. Shop- 
keepers will not push anything new, and 
the public will not buy a thing unless it 
is brought under notice, It does not pay 
to import ahead of the public taste.’ 
Bickford’s 
Arsenate .: Lead 
An infallible insecticide for all leaf- 
eating insects, including Codlin Moth, 
Potato Bug, Curculio Beetle, Appl? 
Root Borer, etc. 
Does not burn the foliage 
Gives rise to no poisonous dust 
No danger to the sprayer 
Adheres firmly to the leaves 
Mixes with water in any proportion 
One pound of Paste makes 30 gallons 
of Spray, 
No Lime Required. 
