CALENDAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 7

CALENDAR.

The weather since the commencement of September has taken a change decidedly for the worse from that experienced during August. Almost every day, and "night in particular, has been a succession of raw, biting winds, with frequent showers of snow and hail, and although it has not been so severe as that reported from other districts, it has been productive of some injury to the fruit blossom. The hills at Anderson's Bay have had a heavier covering of snow than, on any day during the whole winter or spring, and Flagstaff "and the other hills around have been frequently wreathed in white.

Plums, peaches, and apricots, which had opened their blossom buds, have been to a considerable extent stripped, but fortunately the larger majority of the trees have not expanded their blooms. On the whole fruit trees of all sorts are continuing to show a grand appearance, and provided the weather prove at all favourable, the most sanguine hopes of an abundant crop may be entertained. It is scarcely to be expected, now the season is so well advanced, that many sharp morning frosts may be expected,.and it is so much in favour that although the season has been generally so mild, vegetation is one or two weeks later than last year. What the fruit grower has now to attend to is to keep the soil around the roots loosened, removing all weeds and other growth, and giving a light top dressing of manure. Then the insect pests must be carefully watched, and every means taken to remove them. In many apple trees we have examined the mussel scale is very bad, and wherever it is seen, either with the nail or a blunt instrument scrape them off and give a thorough washing with Gishunt or some other approved remedy, avoiding as much as possible the use of oils of any description. Our attention has during the week been, directed to a new pest on our apples — at any rate, it is the first time we have seen it in this country — in the shape of a small boring insect, which commences at the junction of the young shoot with the stem, and bores down towards the root through the bark, in most instances completely killing the tree. On this subject wo will treat more fully in a future number in the hope of obtaining a specimen of the insect itself, to enable a more exhaustive report to be given. Work in the vegetable garden should be prosecuted with as little delay as possible, and whenever the ground is sufficiently dried, seeds of ordinary vegetables should be got in. Those sown in August are thriving very well, pease and beans particularly looking very fresh and healthy. Turnips are also showing very well, although in some cases the leaves are showing the ravages of small insects. Cabbage and cauliflower plants should be got in at once, and those earlier planted should have the soil loosened and the plants hoed up. The planting out of annuals and other flowers raised from seed in pans or boxes should not be neglected, and where fuchsias and geraniums have been housed during the winter, re-potting should now be done, as the plants are showing rapid growth. Keeping down weeds and having the beds and borders in a tidy condition is the principal part of the work in hand now. HOLTICULTOK.