Winter Dressing Fruit Trees.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 197, 2 April 1887, Page 2

Winter Dressing Fruit Trees.

Even a ty vo in gardening, says a correspondent to the Journal of Hoi tuiillure, knows that the brown or peach aphis is active upon the .shoots of the peach and nectarine during the winter as the summer months ; that brown sole remains through the winter upon shoots which it has obtained a footing upon during the summer; that mussel scale holds tenaciously to the "bark of apple and pear trees ; that mealy bug and ppider, when plants th»y infest, become leafless seek out the rough parts of the bark, beneath which they creep, shielded alike from cold and wet ; that the who c tribe of aphides is more r r less active during the winter months ; and that the thrips are notraoregivon to pass the w inter insecurity than slugs. Against such insectß the following recipes will be found useful: Soft poap half a pound, to which add a winedaesful of spirits of turpentine, and with a stick mixing thoroughly with tliQ soft foap, having ready boiling tobacco juice and aiding this a little at a time, so is to incorporate the whole, the tobacco jauQQ that is to be added being half a

fallon. This small quantity will suffice of ress a dozen vines or four average sized peach trees. Apply the mixture with it brush to every part of' the trees, after 'at becomes cooled to 120 degs , taking care to brush it into the angles and crevicea^ of the bark, and not to injure the eyes or dislocate the buds, which, however, should be coated with the stuff. The Booner it is applied after the leaves have fallen the better, as the Bests remain as long as possible before retiring for the winter. The mixture is only applicable to ligneous plants, and to those only when at rest. For destroying white or brown scale and mealy bug upon growing plants, mix 8 ozb. of soft soap with a wineglassful of spirits of turpentine, adding gradually half a gallon of boiling water, stirring so as to thoroughly incorporate. Apply with a brush to the parts infected, or with sponge to leaves, at a temperature not exceeding 120degs. The plants muet be syringed with water immediately after they have been dressed with the solution, taking care not to allow the mixture to run down the stems in full strength to the roots.