Garden Notes.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5211, 19 March 1895, Page 4

Garden Notes.

(Canterbury Tims?,)

The recent high winds have caused orchardists further loes by fallen fruit. ■Many of the apples are now ripe enough for cider, but the moat advantageous method of disposing Of them, by drying, is : .not yofc available. During Signor Bragato'a brief stay in! .Chriatchuorh he took an opportunity of seeing the working of one of the spraying pumps made on Mr Blaekmore's pattern, and was highly satisfied with its efficiency. Some of :the Akaroa, fruit growers have made a perceptible diminution in the codlin moth pest by following the instructions given laafc year by Mr Blackmore, namely, by bandaging the trees and .deßtrojing infected fruit. .We have for eoine time been in communication with Mr Blackmore on the subject of the silver blight, which is spreading to a serious extent in many parts of this district. Mr Blackmore has been investigating the nature of the diseate and haa brought it under the notice of Signor Bragato, and some notes upon the subject may W expected before long. The only treatment, • sofat as investigations have yet indicated, I is to cut off all disoaaed parts of the tree, as shown by the discoloration of the wood when cut through, when anew, healthy growth will be made. The Jast cut must be made with a clean saw, as if the saw with which diseased wood was cut is used on the sound wood, infection will be communicated, Et is gratifying testimony to the value oE the insttuotion which is given by the Government experts that wherever their advice has been taken the result has been completely successful. In Central Otago the apple soale, the leaf-curi of the peach and other fruit trees, and many other peat* have been, if not exterminated, reduced to very small powers for mischief. Trees which last autumn looked as if they would never again bear a leaf are this Beaßon not only covered with luxuriant foliage, but are bearing good crop 3of fruit. The knowledge of this has not been lost upon fruit growers in other districts, and it appears probable that there will Boon not be any part of the country where the insect and fungoid peats will be allowed, as in the past, to run riot uncontrolled through the orchards and gardens. It must now be recognised that fruit cannot be successfully grown in New Zealand without tha regular usa of inaecticides and j fungicides. We also have the satisfaction of hearing that the publication by up, in October last, of the list of remedies for the various peßts has been most useful to many fruitgrowers in various parts of the country. The annual issue— the fifty-eighth— of Carter's seed catalogue, is to hand. It 13 a very comprehensive publication, well calculated to familiarise gardeners, amateur and professional, with the names, descriptions and forma of the newest and choicest vegetables and flowers. Coloured illustrations are given of kidney and bread bean 3, peas, onions, potatoes, letfcnccs, carrots, cabbages, cauliflowers and, above all, of tomatoes, of which their Duke of York h one of the choicest zeds. Cartex'a Blenheim orange tomato enjoyß the reputation of beiug the richest flavoured tomato in cultivation. High flavour has ever been characteristic, of the yellows; the original large yellow was a splendid variety, but colour gave theadvantage at market to the reds. In piivnte gardens Carter's Greengage Tomato haa for many years been regarded as one of the bestflavoured varieties. Harefield Gem ia now described aa the largest pure goldenfruited vurif-ty that Messrs Carter have ever seen. Carter's Model Cucumber has been awarded first prizes in the leadJDg competitions for several seasons. The firm's florists' and other choice seeds are well known. Their prize asters, tenweek slock 3, balsams, carnations, picotees, hollyhocks, Chinese primulas of the newest fringed kinds, calendulas, annual chrysanthemums (single and double), cockscomb Empress, cactus and show dahliQ3. Gaillardias, andGodetias are a mere reminder of the great variety of choice flowers now obtainable. The new verbena, Mammoth, appears to be a great advance. Japanese lilies and hardy bulbs generally, not forgetting gladioli, gloxinia, and Begonia roots, also appear in the catalogue. The following is given by an Australian contemporary as a chsap and effectual ouro for the , cabbage moth, which has been very destructive in New Zealand this season. There remains, however, tho difficulty that Urn pest lays its eggs under the leaves, where the direct action of the application doe 3 not reach. Application j by the syringe, as nearly hotizoutally as possible, ia the best practicable way of reaching the eggs and larvae :— Take lib of coal tar and boil it in 2gals of water, and, when boiling-, dilute in the proportion of 2*ala of the liquid as taken from the boiler with 100gal3 of fresh water. The water must cot ba brackish. Stir well, and pour it on the plautß with a fine rose watering pot.