ORCHARD PLAGUES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4322, 27 January 1875, Page 2

ORCHARD PLAGUES.

Sir,—At this season of the year the cherry, plum and pear trees, and also the,quick hedges, are covered with a small black insect something like a snail, which feeds upon the leaf, eating all the green substance from it, leaving nothing, but the fibres which soon become brown and scarred looking and drop off. The fruit is thus deprived of its natural shelter, exposed to all weathers, and the full heat of the sun. and cannot grow to full- perfection for want of nourishment. As it may not be universally known, that there is a simple remedy for this, will you kindly allow me, through the columns of your paper, to publish it for the benefit of the owners of orchards and the public generally. The remedy is to sprinkle dry wood ashes and lime mixed together over the leaves. . This is easily done by taking a dish of the material already prepared to windward of the tree and showering it over with a saxicer, which causes the insects to cull up and drop off. Kepeat the operation for two or three days. The lime and ashes falling upon the ground also serves as a good manure. I have tried it successfully "for two years, and the trees I have attended to.in this way are quite green, whilst those neglected.-are quite brown, and in some instances nothing but the bare branches are left.—lam, &c, ' " '"■ OKCHA.RD. Fahautanui, January 23.