oe iA a a 
1 Juyz, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 497 
those that remain. When the principle is understood by the operator, the 
_ Work is so very simple and easy that a woman could perform it. 
Dwarf culture will enable the cultivator to plant about 200 trees per acre, 
| and by adopting summer pruning he will have the trees immediately under his 
Control. The art of summer pruning is in itself very simple. As soon as the 
tree starts into growth it must be gone over and all the misplaced buds rubbed 
off; the young shoots pinched back to induce them to form fruiting spurs next 
Season, depressing the stronger portions of the tree to help the weaker, and by 
So doing throwing the whole strength of the tree into its foliage and fruit. 
This system was adopted by Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth—the home of 
English fruits ; and he stated that it proved successful with him far beyond his 
expectation. 
[The above system of dwarf culture is interesting and of much value to 
Owners of small orchards. It is, however, the experience of expert orchardists 
that, for large areas, the trees should be planted at least 25 feet apart, and would 
be better and bear more freely and regularly if they were set 30 feet apart.— 
Ed. Q.4.7.] 
A SOUTH AUSTRALIAN OPINION. 
Taken in connection with Mr. Pink’s article, the remarks by Mr. A. Harper, 
hon. secretary of the Golden Grove Branch of the Agricultural Bureau of South 
Australia, will be read with interest. He directed attention to an article 
phbearing in adaily paper which contained the following :—‘‘ The apple orchard, 
Which is a picture, comprises seven-year-old trees planted 20 feet by 24 feet. 
Last year, which was not the best of seasons, each tree yielded on an average 
eight cases. This, at 2s. 6d. a case, means £1 a tree.’ This statement, 
analysed, means 560 bushels, or £70 per acre per annum for a handy little 
orchard of 10 acres, at an actual outlay for the first seven years of, say, £500. 
The hon. secretary’s experience, so far, had been different. This year his 
biggest crop yet from about 4 acres of apples, ranging from eight to thirteen 
Years old, will be considerably less than 200 cases, iclusive of waste caused by 
wind and birds. ‘This want of success he attributed a good deal to injudicious 
_MIanagement, but did not think that with the best of management it could be 
more than doubled at that age—or, say, from 80 bushels to 100 bushels per 
acre. He did not agree with the generally accepted formule of pruning, 
| especially of the apple, than which, possibly, no other tree is so frequently in 
Want of sturdiness to bear heavy crops of fruit. He had, therefore, come to 
the conclusion that for strength the nearer the apple approaches to the natural 
Shape of the pear the better. Low pruning is certainly very well if easily- 
picked and well sun-burned fruit is required, and if there is no objection to 
_ digging on the knees in winter. He thought apple-trees are still planted too 
‘closely. A thirty-year-old tree had already covered a space of more than 
30 feet in diameter, and was nearly 30 feet high. It is well known that 
| 'solated trees in favourable soil will grow and increase in productiveness for 
many years after those in the middle of an orchard are either dead or useless. 
he members would be pleased if other branches would give information as to 
phenomenal crops and probable crops of apples under favourable and varying 
Conditions, also as to age and any other circumstances. 
a A Ye 
THE WATER HYACINTH. 
Tus Engineer says that the American water hyacinth, which has caused much 
_ trouble in overgrowing the rivers, and is not infrequently an obstruction to 
havigation, has been successfully killed on the Melpomene Canal, New Orleans, 
With chemical spray. 
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