ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17329, 28 November 1919, Page 12

ON THE LAND.

FRENCH BORDEAUX. By this method, which has been published in the journal of the Department of Agriculture by Mr. F. de Castelia, Government viticulturist, the mixing of copper and lime is regulated by a simple chemical test applied during the process, instead of by accurately weighing the materials. Weighing can never be more than approximately correct, because both copper sulphate and lime vary in purity and strength. There is an advantage in the mixture being slightly on the acid side, and to effect this a portion of the pure copper solution is kept in reserve, and not added until the test paper indicates that the mixture is neutral. Materials :—Copper sulphate, 101b ; fresh quicklime slb; water 50 gal.ons. If the lime is of poor quality or air slaked more than 51b will be required . Utensils :—A 60-gallon hogshead with one head removed ; pegs should bo inserted inside to show the 10 and 50 gallon levels. Two or three kerosene tins for boiling water in ; a tub or tin to slake the lime — capacity about 10 gallons ; an earthenware jug or jarcapacity 1 gallon ; a dipper, enamelled or painted inside and out; a fine sieve ; some phenolphthalein testing paper; a broom handle to stir with. Operations: — Dissolve the copper sulphate in 5 gallons or so of hot water make up to 10 gallons with cold water. Itemove 1 gallon of this solut'.on in the earthenware jug or jar, and place it to one side. Add about 20 gallons of water to the copper sulphate solution in the cask. (This need not be measured). Slake the quicklime by adding small quantities of water at a time. When slaked add water suffic ent to make about 6or 8 gallons of milk of lime. Pour this lime milk through the sieve into the bulk copper sulphate solution, with stirring, until neutral Neutralisation is .shown by the phenolphtlialein paper turning pink. Stop adding lime nvlk as soon ns the test paper turns faintly pink. (The test paper can with advantage be pinned to a small st ck to avoid touching with " fintroi-s wetted with lime water, which ■would result in misleading indications). Add 1 gallon uf copper sulphate solution previously withdrawn ; then stir thoroughly. Make up to 50 gallons with water, and stir again. The mixture is now ready for use. ~lt should be used fresh, only sitfiVient for the day's requirements being 1 made at one : me. ! A stock solution of copper sulphatelib " to 1 gallon of watermay be made up. This will keep indefinitely. Ten gallons of tlrs stock solution should be taken for each cask of mixture. Copper sulphate solution must not be handled in iron or tin vessels unless these have been very' thoroughly painted or tarred both inside and out: wood or enamel vessels are to be preferred. Copper soda may bo prepared in similar manner to the above, but about half as much again of soda would be required as in the case of lime. Phenolphthalein test paper can be obta:ned from any chemist. It consists of strips of white filter paper wetted with a 5 per cent, solution of phenolphthalein in methylated spirits and allowed to dry. The above instructions will serve also for the 6-4-40 or 6-4-50 formula used by apple and pear growers. INJECTIONS FOR FRUIT TREES. The idea of curing the diseases of plants by introducing drugs into the sap flow has occurred to many people, but generally to those whose scientific knowledge amounted to nothing, and those who exploited the field were commonly regarded as quacks. However, & Japanese scientist named Gasutaro Yendo, of Tokio, has made experiments that are said by the Gardeners' • Chronicle to promise results of highest importance to horticulturists. Whle recognising the impossibility of applying methods of injection to plants as effectively • as can be done with animals, the investigator believes that if particular chemical substances could be made to circulate in a certa.n measure through the body of plants, it might be possible to stimulate " their "development, to cure them of diseases, or render them immune to diseases. A large number of widely different species were injected with dilute ' aqueous solutions of lithium nitrate, copper sulphate, eosin or aniline violet, the best results being obtained from the first two salts. The injected solutions were conducted chiefly through the vascular bundles, but to a less extent through other tissues, the current being mainly in an upward direction; there was, however, a consderable downward current, while, transverse conduction was distinctly per-' cept-ible. At the end of the experiments - the injected substances were found in greatest quantity in the leaves and other organs where transpiration was most active. These results are especially interesting . in view of the discoveries made also by E. F. Smith, of the United States Department of Agriculture, that galls and other abnormal outgrowths found on plants are due "to an increase in the osmotic pressure due to the heaping up locally of various substances excreted by bacteria." In ths case it was found possible to induce small outgrowths by artificial inoculation without the intervention of bacteria. It seems highly probab'e that further investigations on the same lines mav lead to new methods of dealing with plant d'seasea, and of promoting normal development, two points of the highest importance at the present time. FUTURE FOR DAIRYMEN. Hoard's Dairyman says:— war has stimulated an interest in dairy products; j it has shown their food value and importance. Also, people have had theii attention called to the part whoh milk and its products play in the development of the human race. j The present high prices of dairy products are leading dairymen everywhere to ! consider more seriously the building up : of their herds, the purchase of purebred sires, giving the herd better care, and establishing better creameries and cheese factories and forming co-operative enterprises for the marketing of their products, lii other words, the dairy industry is waking up to its tremendous possibilities and its opportunities, and is attempting to capita ise the conditions which brought about a greater appreciation of the food value of dairy products. The high price.< at which many purebred animals have , been sold recently, the interc-at which I county breeders' associations are taking in I the welfare of dairying in their own j counties, and the effort be ng put forth j by some states to educate the consumers ! regarding the food value of milk and its '• products indicate that the future for j dairying is very bright. FLAX GROWING. There is a strong movement in British countries to stimulate the wider cultivation of the flax crop, it.-, product?, both fibre- and nil, being urgently in demand. Prior to the outbreak of war. the flax in dustry flourished in Russia. France, fVlgium, Germany, Austria, Holland, and j Ireland, the first-named producing fourfifths of a total of 500,000 ton-. All thus,, countries must be in a bad way in respect of their normal production, and there must eventually be a great shortage of linseed, fibre, etc. The price for flux products should rule high for some years. In reviewing the. position, the Cordage Trade Journal says; —" So far as flax prospects are concerned, they are anything but encouraging. We may fear that the coming year will witness prices much beyond anything we have yet seen, for the sininlo reason that there will not he sufficient flax i" go round." A recent i.ssue of the Irish aiid Scofli Linen and Jute Trades Journal contains the following: For some years the present high price of flax will he maintainvd. It may be accepted he, pretty certain that remunerative prices will riilo for ten years. Stocks of linen throughout the world will have to be replenished a task t hat, will take years. In addition, there will be a big demand for aeroplane sheeting tor commercial and oilier purposes."