THE POTASH REMEDY FOR THE APPLE BLIGHT.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1536, 3 June 1885, Page 2

THE POTASH REMEDY FOR THE APPLE BLIGHT.

(Melbourne Leafier.) Alkalies in various forms have keen used by gardeners for the destruction ©f insect-life, for a century past. Potash for the cute of woolly blight {Aphis linigera) causes a wordy war between two claimants for priority in its use and best modes of application. Messrs Williamson and Stephenson have entered the lists, and woe to any who should step between them. It is not with this object that I write to you on the matter. I i>ad your account of Mr Williamson's treatment of his apple trees, and, having considerable trouble with the aphis, I mad" up a couiposition and applied it the following winter (1876). Knowing the value of lime for application to the roots of trees badly aftVcted, I added to it th« composition, and the principal ingredients used wet-K potash and lime, a little sulphur and olive eil. The surface roots were laid bare, and the compound freely spread over them. A lot of French ciuhs (about 150 trees) were in previous years a source of expense, as the produc* in fruit did not pay for the labor of tryiag to eradicate the blights ; these have not since been dressed with any blight-degtroviug componnd. Other varieties of apples wem similarly treated, and there has he««n no need to dress th«>ni since. I now observe the blight is reappearing, but not Xo any appreciable decree ; no doubt the remedy will require t« be again applied. The trees can be inspected at Snnbury, and the old warty knots seen which were formerly the home* of the aphis, now'shewing agaKi in a few spots. The treatment supersedes the old paintings and danhings with Gishurst, train nil, kerosene, and other greasy messes, which only partly effected the end in view. Ido not go as far as to assert that the potash mixture will give thorough immunity to the apple twe from the attacks of blight, because, m the lapse of years what with absorption by the roota of the tree, and due allowance being made for the dispersion and dissipation, by wind and rain, not enough way be left within reach of the roots to influence the blight resisting nature of the sap ; a repetition of the mixture would then be necessary.