THE FEUIT SEASON. RECOMMENDATIONS TO GROWERS. HOW TO PACK FOR MARKET.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 228, 12 November 1887, Page 9

THE FEUIT SEASON. RECOMMENDATIONS TO GROWERS. HOW TO PACK FOR MARKET.

We have received from Messrs Arthur and Buddie the following interesting and seasonable communication on the above subject, which we recommend to the attention of orchardists : — As the fruit season is again approaching, it has occurred to us that growers might be glad of a few hints as to the mode of packing and transit to market, which will best secure to them satisfactory rosults. Much of the dissatisfaction that is at times expressed by shippers and others, on receipt of their account sales, can bo accounted for by want of care on their own part, resulting in the fruit coming to market in an unmarketable condition. To minimise the chances of this dissatisfaction, we beg to make the following suggestions, which are based upon over 23 years' experience as fruit salesmen. In the fir&t place great care should be taken to pick all soit fruit .such as plums, gages, apricots, peaches, cherries and currants fully grown, but before it is quite ripe. These should be packed in small, shallow cases, lined and covered with paper (not leaves or grass). Cases should be securely fastened, leaving open bpa.ee sufficient for ventilation, but not wide enough for pilfering lingers. Gooseberries sell best before they are ripe, but the fruit should be well developed. As far as possible, let the large and small be packed separately, and in 121b to 251b boxes. Cherries require very careful handling. Cases should be very shallow, and in packing exclude leaves and wood. Pears should not be allowed to become over-iipe, and great care must be taken to avoid bruising in picking and packing. Wo would recommend that cases should not contain over 401bs. weight. If specked or damaged are sent, let them come forward in separate cases, marked as such. Apples : It geiierally happens that at the commencement of the season the prices are such as to tempt growers to rush apples in regardless ot their condition. This is to be deprecated, and can only result in disappointment. Keep your apples on the trees until they are fully ripe, then assort and pack wit*h care (not mixing large, small, and damaged together), and we venture to think there will be less cause to complain about low prices. Lemons : If more care were taken in assorting those sent to maiket, it would pay the grower. Grapes require most careful handling, and should be packed in shallow cases lined with paper. Quinces are frequently unsaleable when they come to hand, owing to carelessness in handling and packing ; they should be sent in cases only. Generally, and with regard to all fruit, the chief points to be observed in sending to market are, (1) Care that the fruit, when picked, is lit to stand the ordinary li&ks of the journey it has to take ; and (2) That it is so packed as to reduce those risks to a minimum. Weighing and addressing. It would be a great advantage to all concerned if more care were taken under this head. Cases should always show the gross, tare, and net weights (particularly the tare), and addresses should be legible, and securely affixed. Avoid paper labels. — Auckland Star, November 2, 1887.

Paris Green as an Insect Destroyer. A few weeks ago I gave an extract from one of the American papers on the result of experiments undertaken by one of the American Agricultural Colleges to mitigate the depredations of the codlin moth with Paris green. I have since made the following tests with entire satisfaction : —Onehalf of an ounce of Paris green I mixed up in three gallons of water. With this I thoroughly syringed a gum cestus, literally covered with iccri/a Purchasia. Immediately on the application, the insects dropped from the branches in numbers. Two hours after the application, I again examined the bush and found more than half of the insects were on the ground, dead ; the other half, which were still on the branches, were almost all dead. In the forks of the branches and on the under sides of some of the branches there were still a few alive, and to all appearances uninjured. These, it was evident, had not been touched by the application. It is now just seven days since the poison was applied, and a large number of those left have also died, only leaving a few alive on the bush. At the same time smut and other fungous growth, where this has taken possession in numbers, is beginning to disapper, and the branches and twigs are assuming a clean healthy appearance. To give an idea of the lasting effect of the application, I may state that on some of the leaves, where they curled upwards, the Paris green is still apparent, and is likely to remain there till heavy rains wash it off. Again, I applied a mixture of onefourth of an ounce to three gallons of water to a bed in which some petunias and dicenthi were planted. These were being destroyed by slugs, but since the application I have not noticed the slightest injury to them by the pests. I applied the same mixture to some polyanthus plants that were invested with snails, and these also seem to have taken up their quarters elsewhere for the present. The mixture was also applied to a lot of young seedlings in pots, which formerly I had to dust with lime about three times a week to keep slugs off. Since the application slugs have never touched them, although they are watered every evening ; so that the application about the plants and pots must either have killed them or driven them off. By these applications no injury has been done to either wood or foliage of the plants. From the above tests I reckon the Paris green one of the best and cheapest insect destroyers I have tried. But it must bo used with extreme caution, as it is a deadly poison, and is not soluble in water, the water used only serving to distribute it. After reaching its destination it may lie there for months, quite ready to poison anything that may eat it. While using it, a plight quantity of the spray was driven back by the wind into my face, causing a prickly burning sensation for some time, also an uncomfortable sensation in the mouth and nostrils. Where quantities are used precautions must be taken so as to protect these parts. While using the mixture see that it is constantly kept stirred in order to keep the poison well mixed in the water ; also, that a thorough distribution of the water takes place all over the trees, as without a thorough distribution many insects on the tree will escape. In America, Paris green is used extensively on apple trees to kill the codlin moth. The best season to use it is immediately after the young fruio is formed. The quantity to use is one pound to every 100 gallons of water. To use it stronger is apt to injure the foliage of the trees, aa some of our local orchardists found to their cost last season. American authorities state that the poison must be applied with force. The apples are concealed and protected by many leaves, and to ensure contact H

of the poisonous liquid with the calyx end of each apple it must be dashed on the tree with considei-able energy. Then it will scatter, each apple will receive the fatal atom, and every larva will be killed. Pear aiid quince trees here are attacked as well | as apples, and should be treated in the same manner. To take every precaution, a strong mixture of the above — say one ounce to a gallon of water— should be made, and the stems and blanches of the trees be painted with it, rubbing it well into all the crevices of the bark, and about all the forks of the tree. By these means thousands of the moths would be killed as they reach the chrysalis state. Of course, the above mixture would be too strong for syringing' the foliage, as it would be apt to damage the leaves. I believe that the above treatment would thoroughly dispose of tho American blight on the limbs, trunks, and roots ot the trees. Also on all trees affected by scale or other insect pests. I understand that a large number of experiments were tried last year with Paris green. Those who have been successful should give the public the benefit of their experience, so that combined and safe action might be taken to keep under the ravages of the codlin moth, which, if allowed to go unchecked, would soon make the growing 6f sound fruit, such as apples and pears, almost an impossibility. The best way is to take half-an-ounce of Paris green ; place in a teacup ; put a little water on top, then take a round stick and mix into a thin paste. Place fche paste in a bucket with three gallons of water, wash stick and cup. Thoroughly mix and apply witli syringe. Itshould never be handled with bare hands, nor the du.sfc or spray allowed to fall on the body. Orchard ists, where the j codlin moth has made its appeal ance, should give the above a thorough test during this season. Paris green can be purchased in Auckland for Is 3d per lb.

Here is another concerning an old acquaintance of ours :—" Louise Pomeroy was born the night Moscow was burned by the First Napoleon. Her mother escaped with her under cover of the smoke. She married a man among the pioneer editors of this country, and went on the stage to create a part specially written for her by Otway, a chamatist of much ability in his time."