CLYDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2436, 21 November 1900, Page 38

CLYDE.

November 17. — The atmospheric conditions prevailing here for some Avceks past have been' such as tc give rise to a belief that the seasons have suayed fiom their customary order of succession, and that the winter had somehow elbowed its Avay into the spring, and was bent on making its presence felt in a, most disagreeable manner. Prosts and the Crops. — The presence of nightly frosts did no little damage to the potato crop, but considering the frequency of these frosts and the consequent cold atmosphere — not infrequently accompanied by high winds,- — Lhe crops upon the whole escaped somewhat better than, was expected would be the case. Fruit. — The apricot suffered considerable damage from the 'frosts, some trees being 'entirely stripped of their young fruit before the -trees had deA-eloped their leaves as a natural protection/ The cherries only suffered slightly, and the peaches almost escaped being scotched. Pests. — Tho blights, both iungoid and insect, are now attacking the trees and fruits. The curl-leaf aphis is fairly well established in gardens where the owner neglects to adopt the simple means of cure prescribed by the experts of the Agricultural department. It is simply astounding how any person owning one or two psach trees can look on in a state of inaction while the pest devours the yoxmg and tender foliage and disfigures the Avhole tree when the application of a. very simple wash would eradicate the destructive pest. Some very fine peach trees in the local gardens appear as if a flash of , lightning had passed amongst their bianchea, so seared and blackened is the foliage from the effects of the destructive curl-leaf- aphis. And even then there are those who express astonishment at the scarcity of fruit on their trees, and the almost entire absence of fiavoui in the few unperfected fruits they may gather at intervals of several years. A Pretty G arden. — Mr John Dickie cultivates about two acres round his residence, and to this area he devotes all his spare time and attention. The ground is nicely laid out under a variety of standard fruit trees that are well, tended. The surface space between the trees is devoted to the raising of useful vegetables, and the walks intersecting the garden are bordered on either side Avith ornamental flowering plants ofsall kinds. The shade afforded .by the fruit trees renders it possible to obtain a unique state of perfection m foliage plants, and where flowers are cultivated the blooms -are invariably true in colour, form, and fragrance, while the delicate pencilling characteristic of such choice blooms as the Lilium auratum and Niphetos rose are perfected to a tint. The garden is well sheltered from northerly Avinds 'by roAvs of beautiful willows, within whose grateful shade tall, slender grasses almost invite to repose, so cool and restful do they appear to the eye unaccustomed to luxury in the Avay 'of green sward. The greenhouse contains innumerable pot plants in all stages of growth, and the evident care bestowed upon those less hardy plants , is in keeping with that which is mpnifest at every turn and angle -in the entire garden. Mr and Mrs Dickie are our most successful competitors at shows lield under the aaispices of the Vincent Horticultural Society, and it is evident that their marked success at those shows is in a large measure due to their system of cleanly cultivation, together with their regard for A'arieties of the choicest and best only in that Avhich they elect to cultivate. Bunny. — The Lands department has now control of the entire runs and -homestead known as Eurnscleugh station. The department is pushing on the demise of the rabbit with a persistency only equalled by -that .of the rabbit in refusing to go under. However, there is a very marked difference in the present visible quantity of bimny and the numbers that were noticeable some time ago. In connection Avith this departmental work there is ona very glaring injustice being persisted in. It is a notorious fact that the Lands department is conducting a colossal system of " sweating " in connection with rabbiting those runs. For some time the department has been paying their rabbiters the munificent wage of 5s per day, and even instances of a " foui bob " -diem are frequent. For this paltry Avage the men have to find their own tents and cooking utensils, camp on the mountains in the depth of winter, and have all wet days stopped off their beggarly salary. It is a hideous shame that any G-overnmental department should be capable of such a dastardly action as that, of " sweating " the employees who, if the Hon. Mr Seddon may be quoted as ' right, are entitled to a wage of 6s per day. This beggarly wage on a goldfield where the necessaries of life are still ruling at a high, figure will barely admit of the men lieeping themselves in anything like decent food, let alone' it enabling them to practise that thrift in youth which migHt permit of them steering cleai of the shoals that beset the itinerant in old age. It is tc be hoped that this long-continued injustice to the rabbiters on Earnscleugh Avill be recognised by those in authority, and "the men dealt with honestly to the extent of paying them a Avage equivalent to labour done.