LIME IN THE ORCHARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 386, 16 May 1908, Page 4

LIME IN THE ORCHARD.

The value of lime in the orchard and its effect as a fungicide was recently referred to by Mr S. Kinner, a New South Wales orchadFt. He said : —” Some years ago I took over a property in which were planted some young trees. Many of them were nearly dead with scale, aphis, black fungus, or smut. Some I cut down close to the ground, and the others I sprinkled with dry lime (quick lime or slaked lime) during a slight shower, and in two weeks the trees had put out young shoots, and are to-day fine, healthy trees. I have thrown lime over them three times in nine years. I should estimate that treating each tree cost 6d. Everyone is surprised at the healthy, clean appearance of my orange trees. My opinion always has been that one of the principal causes of dhease in fruit trees is want of lime in the soil. If orchardists would only give their orchard a good dre;sing of lime they would surprise themselves as well as the inspectors. The waste lime from the acetylene gas is quite as gcod, or even better, and should be used in a liquid state and applied with a spray pump. There is no danger of its hurting the foliage or fruit. I have also found it a remedy for the small ladybird, or beetle, which sometimes attacks orange trees in myriads, and clears off both leaves and fruit when it is setting. My trees were attacked two years ago. I threw lime over them, and the little pests were soon crawling under the trees and dying ; and in a few days the trees were quite free ; and I have not been troubled with them since. I used to use resin and soda mixture before I found out the lime remedy ; but you don’t catch me at that game now.”