The Garden. (By HORTIS.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 420, 16 November 1889, Page 6

The Garden. (By HORTIS.)

The Codlin Moth. I The apple trees now being in ltower. preparation should be made to deal with the codlin moth, which is euro to mako its appearance as soon as the blossoms t have set. When the young fruib is formed and beginning to swell the trees should be syiinged with either Paris green or London purple. The mixture that was most generally usod last spring was Pans green, and 1 am sorry to say that in some cases the mixture used was too strong 1 , the leaves of the trees being stripped. About , the proper quantity to use is lib of j painters' Paris green to 100 gallons of water. Sometimes in purchasing Paris green it is found that the strength varies, and through this cause the treo3 wove scorched. Before using Pans gieen all o\er the orchard each individual who may have purchased their stock should make a test of a small quantity, say half-an-ounce to three gallons of water. This should be well mixed up, and one branch of a tree thoroughly syringed. In a few days, by the appoaratice of the foliage, the test will have told whether it will bp safe to use it at that strength. If the foliage is in the slightest injured try the same quantity of Paris green to tour gallons of water or more according to strength. It will be quite easy to do this before the bulk of ihe trees are syringed, thuvS making it a certainty that no injury will rtfuilt to the bulk of the trees. The best lime to syringe trees for the destruction ot the grub is from the time the truit is iairly formed till it begins to take a drooping position, through tho truit stalk not having sutfv'ient strength to keep the fruit upright, o^ingto its increasing weight. The t-yringinir, to be a success, must be thorough ; atleastevery apple must receive a portion of the poison, or those which are missed will almost be sure to become infested withagiub. In America oxpeits advise that one »yi inning is sufficient, but here I think at lea-4 two should be given, as frequently uoieccive during December very heavy rains, winch will wash all the poison oft the unit and foliage, and the moths during January will have clean fruit to lay their eggs upon and hus spoil considerable numbers. As tar as I havo been able to judge during the la--t few years, the codlin moth begins to lay eggs from the beginning of December till some time in February. From this J think a succession ot moths keep emerging fiom their cocoons during a period of about three months, thus keeping up a succession ot moths laying egga. The codlin moth not only attacks apple?, but also pears, quincen, and even, it is said, the plum is attacked as well, and nothing -will keep it under like spraying with some poisonous ingredients. So as to give a little nioi'e iniormation as to London purple I will re-print what one of the American Agricultural Professors says about it. A Remedy for Codlin Moth. — After eight years' experience in spraying truit trees with Paris green or London purple, I can say that it is safe and eliective against codlin moth. Three cautions are to be observed : First, the preparation must not be too strong. I prefer London purple, as it is cheap, mixes easily, and remains mixed longer than the heavier and more expensive Paris gieen. One pound of London purple to one hundred gallons of vater is stiong enough. It had better be weaker rather than stronger. The proportions mentioned make it strong enough to do the work detired, and if -tronger it blights the leaves especially if applied the second time. With the weak mixture we can apply it po thoroughly a> to do excellent execution, and yet not kill the leave? Secondly, we muot apply it at the light time. This is just after the blossoms fall from the tree*. If earlier it is too eaily for our purpose and endangers the bees. The danger ot poisoning bees and honey should make us all very careful not to spray till tho blossoms have all fallen. We should spray "just as soon as the b'ossoms havo all faded ; if we wait longer homo of the insects will have entered the fruit and will escape. At this date there i» no danger of injury to the bees. In ca.se of a large mixed 01 chard, I should watch such trees a& the Northern Spy, that blossoms late, and should spray as soon a^ the blossoms had faded or fallen from the&c tree& Thirdly, the trees should be thoroughly sprayed. Of course, unless the liquid strikes the blossom or calyx end of each fruit, the poison will not have lodged whero it is required to kill tho injects. Bat thero are myriads of leaves to keep the poison from staking the piece. Thus the [ spray mu=t be thrown with great force, so that it will strike eveiy apple. This is ono I of the most impoitant points. Uso a strong; foice pump and a noz/.le that will not break the force of the stream, A stiong stream dashes upon the leaves and scatters everywhere, and thus we j storm the citadel. Unless a heavy j rain comes very soon after, I think it will pay best to give only one treatment. It we do spray a second time, let it be ! about three weeks after the fiist, and use a weaker mixture, say one pound to 150 gallons of water. Any good force pump will do the woik. Barrels drawn in a waggon are the cheapest receptacles to hold the liquid, but they must bo entirely clean. Small particles ot dirt from barrels otten get into the pump and cause much annoyance. A pump like the Field forcopump, which runs with gearing attached to the waggon wheels, is just the thing for large orchards. — ' Professor A. Cook of Michigan Agricultuial College.'

Chrysanthemum Show. 1 have just received the schedule of the Auckland Chrysanthemum Society. The show is to be held in the Choral Hall on the 25th and 26bh April, 1890. in issuing the s-chedule now it, gives plenty of time for growers to purchase their plants from the different nurserymen and get them planted out during the ond of this month. In the schedule there are in all 72 different classes? tor which entries can be made. The Society oiler for competition four silver medals of the National Chrysanthemum Society, and two ditto bronze medals ; also the National Chrysanthemum Society certificate will be awai-ded to the winner of thegreatest number of first prizes in the open class. With the schedule the Society issue a small pamphlet which gives directions how to grow and train chrysanthemum plants so that they will produce h'ret-class flowers. Each member of the Society will receive a pamphlet with his schedule. Early application should be made for such to the Standing Committee, or to Mr A. E. Devvea, honorary secretary.