CURE FOR BLIGHT ON APPLE TREES

Temuka Leader, Issue 1343, 21 May 1885, Page 3

CURE FOR BLIGHT ON APPLE TREES

The Minister of Lands has had printed and circulated for general information the followihg cure for blight on apple trees, which originally appeared in the Melbourne Leader:—" Aikaließ in various forms have been used by gardeners for the destruction of insect-life, for a century past. Potash for the woolly blight (Aphis Llnigera) causes a wordy war between two claimants for priority in its use and best modes of application. Messrs WilliainHOu and Stephenson have entered the lists, and woe to any who should step between them. It is not with this object that I write to you on the matter. I read your account of Mr Williamson's treatment of his apple-trees, and, having considerable trouble with the aphis, I made up a composition and applied it the following winter (1876). Knowing the value of lime for application to the roots of trees badly affected, I added it to the composition, and the principal ingredients used were potash and lime, a little sulphur, and olive oil. The surface-roots were laid bare, and the compound freely spread over them. A lot of French crabs (about 150 trees) were in previous years a source of expense, as the produce in fruit did not pay for the labor of trying to eradicate the blight} these have not since been dressed with any blight-destroying compound. Other varieties of apples were similarly treated, and thera has been no need to dress them since. I now observe the blight is reappearing, but not to any appreciable degree; no doubt the remedy will require to be again applied. The trees can be inspected at Sunbury, and the old warty knots seen, which were formerly the home of the aphis, now showing again in a few spots. The treatment supersedes the old paintings and daubings with Gishurst, train oil, kerosene, and other greasy messes, which only partly effected the end in view. Jdo not go as far as to assert that the potash mixture will give thorough immunity to the apple-tree from the attacks of blight, because, in the lapse of years, what with absorption by the roots of the tree, and due allowance being made for the dispersion and dissipation, by wind and by rain, not enough may be left within reach of the roots to influence the blightresisting; nature of the sap ; a repetition of the mixture would then be necessary."