THE POTASH REMEDY FOR THE APPLE BLIGHT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1839, 16 May 1885, Page 2

THE POTASH REMEDY FOR THE APPLE BLIGHT.

"We have been requested to republish this extract in the Herald. It originally appeared as a letter in the Melbourne Leader : — Alkalies in various forms have been used by gardeners for the destruction of insect-life, for a century past. Potash for the cure of wooly blight {Aphis linigeni) causes a wordy war between two claimants for priority in its use and best modes of application. Messrs Williamson and Stevenson 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 effected, 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 labour of eradicating the blights •. those have not since been dressed with any blight-destroying compound. Other varieties of apples were similarly treated, and there 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 on 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 Gfishurst, train oil, kerosene, and other greasy messes, which only partly effected the end in view. Ido not go so 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 rain, not enough may be left within reach of the roots to influence the blight-resisting nature of the sap : a repetition of the mixture Avould then be necessary. — Yours, &c., C. Mat. Sunbury, sth April.