Orchard Pests.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 292, 16 June 1897, Page 2

Orchard Pests.

A notice appears in the New Zealand Gazette of June 3rd drawing tbe atten< tion of owners of fruit trees to clause IE of " The Orchard and Garden Pests Act 1896." The notice says :— " The atten. tion of owners of fruit trees is directed to clause 13 of ' The Orchard and Gar< den Pests Act, 1896,' which provide! that every owner or occupier of land or which fruit trees are growing shall during the autumn or winter months dress all the fruit trees on such land with a suitable dressing for the purpose of checking the spread of diseases. The Department of Agriculture strongly re< commends the following winter wash :— Quicklime, 401bs ; sulphur, 201bs ; salt 15lbs ; water, 60 gallons. First boil 201bf of lime and 201bs of sulphur in 20 gallon! of water until both lime and sulphur are dissolved. This will require about an hour's boiling. When sufficiently done the mixture will be of an amber colour, Be careful to ute an iron boiler* The remainder of the lime should then be slacked in a barrel with hot water, add tha salt and stir up briskly. Mix the two lot* together with enough water to make up 60 gallons, a»d apply hot, if possible, using a good pump, taking care to cover the young wood. It is also beneficial to dust sifted lime on the trees while the mixture is wet. Apply during winter, before the buds start. As the liquid is very corrosive, a cup-shaped piece of metal should be attached to the director, a few inches below the nozzle. This will prevent the material from running down and injuring the hands. This excellent wash cannot be too highly recommended for winter use on all dissiduous fruit trees : it cleans the tree from the growth of moss and lichen, destroys any insects therein, tends to reduce fungus diseases, and is an effectual and cheap winter application. The above may be applied with a brush, but a spray is more efficient and cheaper."