22 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
July 1, 1909 
“The Briars,” Residence of Mr. James Cowell, Medindie. 
soil to become a serious detriment to the 
trees. In wetter localities, such as in 
our hilly districts, early ploughing is a 
very questionable practice, and our best 
orchardists have come to the conclusion 
that it is desirable to leave the ground 
fairly flat and growing a crop of grass or 
weeds until the early spring, so that the 
soil may be held in position. The land 
should be worked as soon as the teams 
can get on it, and sufficient moisture will 
then be retained to enable the trees to go 
through the summer successfully. Tt will 
possibly be news to many of our older 
orange growers that the proprietor of one 
of the largest orangeries in South Aus- 
tralia has recently procured a subsoiling 
plough, and intends to break up a fair 
proportion of the space between the rows 
with this instrument, as he is convinced 
that the continuous. application of water 
year after year combined with a shallow 
tillage, that has been followed in the 
past, tends to bring the subsoil into a 
condition totally unsuited for the pene- 
tration of the roots of citrus or other 
trees. This departure from the ordinary 
method of cultivation will be watched 
with considerable: interest, but if the 
work is judiciously done, and is combined 
‘Jose Scale does 
with other good cultural methods, no fear 
need be felt as to the result. 
A Remedy for San Jose Scale. 
The San Jose Scale is one of the worst 
pests that the orchardist has to combat. 
Itis primarily a pest of orchard trees. The 
varieties that appear to suffer mest from 
it are peaches, plums, upples, pears, and 
cherries. In America where the San 
most damage, the 
orchardists have pinned their faith to the 
efficacy of the lime-sulphur wash, This 
is either painted on the trunks and limbs 
of the trees as soon as they have been 
pruned, or itis sprayed in such a way 
that every portion cf the wood is 
coated. The ingredients used in making 
the lime-sulphur wash are stone-lime 15 
lbs, flowers of sulphur 15 Ibs, water 50 
gallons. 
water in a copper. .. Inv another small 
vessel, mix the sulphur with enough hot 
water to make a thin paste. 4s soon as 
the water in the copper reaches the 
boiling poiut the sulphur paste should be 
added to it. When that has been done 
the lime should be added. As scon as it 
To mix them, heat’6 gallons of ». 
commences to slake a little cold water 
should be poured into the copper, other- 
wise the mixture will boil over, When 
the lime has become slaked the mixture 
should be boiled for half hour longer, after 
which, the balance of the 60 gallons of 
cold water may be added. The wash. 
should then be strained through a fine 
wire screen to remove the sediment, after 
which, it is ready to be sprayed on the 
trees. When it is desired to make larger 
or smaller quantities than 50 gallons,. 
the same proportions of lime sulphur and — 
water should be used. The lime-sulphur. 
mixture may be regarded as ono of the. 
best winter sprays for fruit trees. Its. 
efficacy as a_ scale destroyer has been 
thoroughly tested, in addition to which, it 
has a beneficial effect in cleansing the 
stems and limbs of the trees of old 
bark, moss, lichens, and other fungus. 
_ growths. 
+ OMMERCIAL AND: ORNAMEN- 
~ TAL PRINTING of every descrip~ 
tion in first-class style, on on the shortest 
“notice, and at cheapest rates, at the 
4 Australian Gardener’”’ Office, corner of 
Pirie and Wyatt streets. 
