"A HARMLESS FAD."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1787, 27 June 1913, Page 10

"A HARMLESS FAD."

"WHITEWASHING FRUIT TREES. It is not an uncommon practice among the older generation of fruit-growers and amateurs to limewash tho trunks of their trees in tho winter season. In discussing this, tho South Australian Government expert, Mr. Quinn, classes it as a harmless fad. "Tho practice of whitewashing the trunks from the ground to tho fork is," ho says, "more or less universal. Tbero is really no reason why anyone should not follow the practice if they should 'so desire. It is not objectionable, from any . point of view, and detunes a certain amount of interest and care on the part of the,owner of the fruit trees, but as a matter of utility # and from an irisecticidal point of view, it may be entirely neglected. It is hardly to be supposed that whitewashing the trunk of _ a tree is of any real benefit, excepting in such cases where the top of a tree has bean removed in order that tho remaining stump may bo grafted to some.other variety. Whitewashing, then,, is justifiable and highly necessary, as it prevents the scalding of the bark by the hot rays of the sun, and thus prevents disease and consequent decay. Again, the whitewashing of steins of young_ trees during the first and second years or their growth, when they have not sufficient head with a spread of branches wido enough to shade the trunks from tho sun, is extremely desirable, or some other method may be adopted of shading the stems. But the whitewashing of the trunks of welldeveloped trjes is merely a harmless lad, which cannot do any possible harm, and very little, if niiy, good.'

A straw indicates, which way_the tide flows.. * The sale' of "Gilruth Calf Food increases every month, and indicates the sfs*9®tUWLj* to every ono ton of any other make. Advt. We do not say "Everybody's Doing It," but we do say that every Cheese factory Manager ought to do it. That is to 111stal "Victor" Vats in the place of the old fashioned flat bottomed Vat. If you haven't done it-do it now. It means a material help to you and tho quality of the cheese you will make will be greatly improved. In fact, a "Victor Vat means better Cheese and Bigger Profits. Send for particulars to-day. Albert J. Parton, Plumber, Carterton—Advt.