HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9016, 2 December 1907, Page 3

HALCOMBE.

(From Onr Own Correspondent.)

What rain wo had last week has done a lot of good, and we can do with as much every week for the next’three mouths.

I was pleased to receive a visit from Mr Sim, Government Pomologist, last Saturday. The pleasure such visits afford mo is enhanced by the fact that I always got some valuable tips from those experts, and my vanity is flattered when they compliment mo upon my amateur work ns an orcliardist. There is not going to he a good fruit harvest this year in pur district, and to save the comparatively mcagro crop wo now have upon the trees spraying must bo done. Mr Sim recommends -fibs sulphate of copper (blue stone), 51bs It {ls If rocho (quick lime) to CO gallons water. Swift’s arsenate of lead for codim moth and leech, 1/Hbs to 50 gallons water. The lime to bo effective must be uuslacked, and splendid stuff for the purpose can be obtained from . the Mauricovillo kilns. I was pleased to learn from Mr Sim that the codlln moth parasites that Mr Boucher (pomologist) has successfully nursed are doing splendidly, and it is my intention to apply for a family of them, as Mr Sim thinks my orchard offers an ideal' homo' for the destroyer, whoso work upon the moth grub is interesting and deadly. Don’t forgot that pamphlet No. 10 dad all others published by the Department are to bo had for the feting, and don’t forget to ask for bulletin No. 17, which contains an admirable description of growing and marketing fruit in California, tl'.? noted homo of the great iudnsiiy. ■'M saw illustrations of tho_ prize gardens” in Australia the other day, and thought what a splendid idea to introduce into our Dominion, though the majority of (tails at country stations will declare they are overworked already, and have no time for such fancy fads. I believe that if once started, and liberal prises offered, a healthy /iu 1 a "'double sense} rivalry would ensue, and the travelling public would have the extretqe pleasure of viewing a succession of beautiful gardens, whore now unkept station grounds and dreary desolation meets the eye, A worker who has utilitarian Ideas, together with poetic and Other wag fenjjjg m 0 the other night of a plan he is developing of establishing'one of these perpiauont, and to travelling man bud feast.-ever attractive roadside watering places, winch shall always ho full and overflowing with the pure sparkling spring liquid. ‘‘He was doin’ the job iu his own time.” I, of course, approved his philanthropy ; then followed the information that he would also put a box iu the pa-pa, above which there would bo a notice board bearing one of the following happy reminders and delightful poetic expressions made out of his own head while lie was ‘‘chucking muck,” which lie thought especially appropriate for the purpose : “While yer cool yer coppers and ■ change yer sox, '■ Don’t forgot to diop summat in this box.” Ifhat d’yer think o’ that? Here's another : “As true as yer hero A drink o’ pure water is bettr’u beer. ’• ’ That ’ud knock the teetotal folks. “When yer goes to the Black Bull

luu, Yer takes a piut ont and puts a tanner in. ” “When this boss trough you gladly spy, . Don’t forgot Cristmis is comm and I’ll be dry. ” That ought tor fetch ’em, her? Sorter feller feeliu’. I’vo got a lot more on ’em ; they are ’ard to beat, oh? “Yes,” I replied, “very.” Good night, and good luck to the Xmas box.” On behalf of the Halcombe invalid I have to cordially thank Alfred Franks, Cliff road,' Marton; Mr L. M, Hill, Mauganoho; and Mr MeMinu, of the Wairarapa Daily Times, for parcels of stamps to hand since mv last.