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Nowadays the old-fashioned custom of lime washing
fruit trees in the winter has almost disappeared. The modern method of pest
control on apples, pears, plums and currants (both black and red) is to
spray before the end of January with a tar-oil spray, and later with a lime-sulphur
spray, and other washes at various stages of growth.
For the moment, the tar-oil wash is most important. You can buy it almost
anywhere with full directions for making up. Remember to choose a dray day
9not frosty), with little or no wind, for spraying ; and make sure that all
the branches have been thoroughly wetted all over. Cover up any plants under
or near the trees or bushes or the spray will damage them. Newspapers will
do. |
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If apple and pear trees are not growing very strongly, a dressing of 3 or 4
oz. of hoof and horn meal to the square yard, lightly forked into the ground
during winter over the area covered by the branches, will encourage them to
make strong growth. In addition, one ounce to the square yard of Sulphate of
Ammonia should be worked into the surface soil in spring. Apples and pears
especially need potash, and dressing of wood ash from the bonfire should be
worked into the ground in April. Bone meal is a useful manure for fruit
trees, but need only be applied once every three or four years at the ate of
about 3 oz. per square yard. Plums too benefit by a similar dressing, but
should also have a dressing of 2 oz. of sulphate of ammonia to the square
yard each spring. |
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The following leaflets in the "Dig
for victory" series are free for the asking and may be helpful to
you. You can get them by writing to the Ministry of Agriculture at Berri
Court Hotel, St. Annes, Lytham St. Annes, Lancs :末
 Dig
for Victory Leaflet末
No. 1末Cropping Plan for a 10-rod plot (300 sq. yds.).
No. 23末Cropping Plan for a 5-rod plot (150 sq. yds.).
No. 7末How to make a Compost Heap.
No. 12末Seed Potatoes.
No. 18末Better Fruit末Disease Control in Private Gardens.
No. 25末How to Prune Fruit Trees and Bushes.
There are other useful leaflets in the series : send for a list to the above
address.
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