New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, July 14, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 412, 14 July 1849, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, July 14, 1849.

By the Mariner we have received files of the Otago News to the 7th instant. The proprietor has enlarged his Journal, which is now the same size with the Spectator and the other Journals circulating in the Southern Province, while the style of printing and the general arrangement is very creditahle to his establishment. The winter had been very severe, a good deal of snow having fallen, but the settlement seemed to be steadily progressing. By an advertisement in the News it appears that a Company was projected for the purpose of ensuring a regular and cheap supply of timber, "Gutter, flour, seed corn, and other agricultural produce' by establishing a communication between that settlement, and Nelson, though when we compare the prices of articles of general consumption, as stated in the price current of the Otago News, with those in this settlement, the difference is not so great as might be imagined, and if a reference be made to the early days of this settlement, the advantage will be greatly za favor of the Otago settlers, who will be able, by instituting such a comparison, in some degree to estimate the sacrifices made by the early colonists, the forlorn hope of civilisation, in founding this settlement, and in smoothing the way for those who were to follow in their track. A careful and interesting description of the country forming the Otago block, continued through several numbers in succession has appeared in the Otago News, the first portion of which we have published in our present number, intending to continue it, as opportunity serves, in order that our readers may be able to form, from the description of an eye witness, an opinion of the capabilities of the district.

The Mariner and Twins arrived, yesterday from- Otago, which they left on the ,10th instant. The Scotia also, sailed the same day for this port, but was to call at Waikowaite on her way. - _- „, ,t, t „.., (i

Mechanics' Institute. — In the list of sub* scriptions for the , new building published in the Spectator, the following names were accidentally omitted — J.- , - Mr. W. Donald 3L 2 0 "' s- „ T. Crowther .... 1 -X* Q,V

American Blight. — As many persons who have orchards in this settlement are annoyed by the American blight we have thought it useful to publish, the,' following remedies extracted from Johnson's Farmer's Encyclopedia, a work of established reputation. We are not enabled, from experience, to say 'probation est,' but strongly recommend a trial of them to those whose apple trees are 1 affected by the blight ": — ■ - A considerable number of methods have been proposed for getting rid of the insect in question. Whitewashing, or washing with lfine water, has been tried, but is not so efficacious as the application of any glutinous substance, which may cover the insects and dry over them. Double size or glue, liquefied by heat, and applied by means of a brush, particularly in March, when the insects begin to show more cottony than in winter, is a very effectual remedy, if no crevice of a tree is left unsized. This, however, may be dissolved by the rain, and therefore a varnish is recommended by Mr. Knapp, as follows :—": — " Melt about three ounces of resin in an earthen pipmri, take it from the fire, and pour it into three ounces of fish cil ; the ingredients perfectly unite, and when "cold, acquire the consistency of honey. A slight degree of heat will liquefy it, and in this state paint over ,ever-y node or infected part in your tree, us>hg>a common painter's brush. This I prefer doing in the spring, or as soon as the hoariness appears. The substance soon sufficiently hardens, and forms a varnish, which prevents any escape, and stifles the individuals. After this first dressing, should any cottony mat er appear round, the margin of the varnish, a second application to these parts will, I think, be found to effect a perfect cure. The prevalence of thjs insect," adds this author, " gives some of our orchards here theappearance of numerous white posts in an extensive drying ground, being washed with lime from root to branch ; a practice, I apprehend, attended with little benefit. A few of the creatures may be destroyed, by accident ; but as the animal does not retire tothe earth, but winter^,, in the clefts of theboughs, far beyond the influence of this wash, it remains uninjured, to commence its ravage* again when spring returns." An oily or resinous substance, however, being prejudicial to trees, Mr. George Lindley recommends vinegar as a wash for young trees ; and, as less expensive for old trees, a sort of paint, composed of one gallon of quicklime, half a pound of flowers of sulphur, and a quarter of a pounJ of lamp-black, mixed with boiling water to the consistence of whitening for white- washing, and, layingit on rather more than blood warm with abrush. This should be done in March, and again in August, when the winged insectsspread from tree to tree. Mr. Couch, as a cheap and certain remedy, recommends three quarters of an ounce of sulphuric acid, by measure, to be mixed with seven ounces and a half of water. It should be applied all over the bark by means of rags,, the only parts excepted being the' present year's shoots, which it would destroy. This destroys moss and lichens, as well as insects ; and if applied in showery weather, will be washed into, every crevice in which they can harbour. .. ' •'