A NEW ZEALANDER IN IRELAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1966, 29 October 1891, Page 8

A NEW ZEALANDER IN IRELAND.

A well-known Otago man at present on a •trip to the Old Country writes us from Dublin under date August 30. Of farming matters in Ireland he says : — I have had a run through the oountry to Limerick and back, and find ifc very green, not smoky like moat of England. Owing to fche constant broken weather, a great deal of hay is still oub, and none in large stacks. Here they put it up In large oocks. Ec the horse show and olasi of horses there-fanoy 104 hunters in one class, and 72 entries in one class for the publio jumping trials I Urge the NewJZea-' land moneyed farmers to go in for breeding better horses; there is an unlimited market if aood enough. ft I enclose a circular on two matters whioh are attracting considerable attention here at the present time- viz , the potato diiease and the diamond baok moth. It is issued by the Irish Land CommU»ion s Agricultural department, and 1b being extensively reproduced in both dally and agricultural papers. We make the following extracts from the oiroular ;— POTATO DIBRi.BE Experiments tried in France, Belgium, and the United Statei in 1869 and 1890 justify the hope that an application of sulphate of copper to the potato plant may materially reduce the disease by preventing or arresting its progress. The dressing recommended is-made as follows :— Dissolve 51b of sulphate of copper in 2gal of boiling water; dissolve 2Jlb of quicklime in lgal of water. When both mixtures are thoroughly dissolved, mix together, and add22galof cold water, so that the whole mixture will consist of— Sulphate of copper ... ... 5i D Quicklime... ... 241b Water ••• »• ' ... 25gal. The above quantities Buffice for application to one•lxth part of a statute acre If a large enough vessel is obtainable aay larger quantities may be mixed at one time. The dreasfng should be applied to the potato plant in a fine spray by means of a force pump or syringe, so that the spray will reach all parts of the plant. Many forms of syringe are made •uitable fur tniß purpose. TtJBNIP DIAMOND-BACK MOTH. The caterpillars of this moth are now causing muoh damage to the turnip crop in parts of Ireland, especially on the east coast. They congregate upon the leaves covering them with fine webs, and devour every particle of soft tiasue, to that the plants either die or are seriously injured. Upon the first symptom of an attack the plants should be sprayed by means of aStrawsoniser with paraffinfoll put on in the form of the finest mist at tl c rat* of about 2gal per aore This will tend to oheck th<- d^ease by making the plants unpalatable and offensive. When the Sfcrawsonlser is not avaiUble. wash or tyringe the plants with the following mixture :—: — Soft soap ... ,„ 6lb Paraffin oil ... ... 5 plots Water ... ... ... ioogal. Ilrst mix the paraffin oil and soft soap in hot water to form an emulsion, then add cold water. The " Bolair "or similar pump is well suited for applying this dressing. Inrtßponee to applications received ' the Agricultural department of the Irish Land Commission has sent out six " Eclair" spraying maohines, and one " Pllter-Bourdil " spraying machine. « . . Ifc is the intention of the Iriih Land Commissioners that the machines should be vied where disease is most rife. It is hoped that these trials will enable many farmers to see the sprayers at work, and to judge for themselves as to their merits, and that they will also afford some information at to the oost of applying the dressing referred to and the advantages, if any, to be derived therefrom.