HANDBOOK ON GARDENING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3475, 19 October 1920, Page 10

HANDBOOK ON GARDENING IN NEW ZEALAND.

We have received from Messrs "Whitcombei and Tombs one of their practical handbookg dealing with fruitgrowing in New Zealand, by Mr J. T. Sinclair, head gardener to Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, of Te Koraha, Christ church, with a chapter op orchard pests and their control, by a specialist. It is a very valuable, and to orchardi6ts and small growers of fruit, an interesting book, packed

full of information given in as condensed a form as is consistent with clearness of direction. There are over two dozen diagrams illustrating the work of planting, pruning, training, grafting, budding, and spraying, also the pests which plague the fruit-grower. Sections are devoted to the soil, manure, preparing the ground, and other essential work, with sub-sections concerning the various trees and bushes, mulching and thinning. The portion dealing with orchard pests and diseases in New Zealand is of special value, and with the assistance of the illustrations it should be easy to detect the early presence of pests and ascertain the most effective methods to adopt to meet the danger. .It is wisely insisted that prevention is better than cure, and the steps which should be taken to ward off attacks are clearly indicated. A calendar of work . for the year will be found useful, also a table giving the number of trees required to plant an acre of land and distances apart for planting them. The' handbook, priced at 2s*. can be recommended, and even experienced orchardists may find it informative and useful, giving as it does the results of the observations of an experienced and trained expert.