Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/243

 under the vines make the best manure for grapes, but any ordinary well rotted manure acts beneficially.

This is used for covering the new graft in a fruit tree, or when budding trees and plants. Melt together ¾ lb. of bees' wax, ¾ lb. of rosin, and ½ lb. of good tallow or mutton fat. While warm, work it in the hand with a little water.

Another:—Melt over a slow fire 1 lb. of bees' wax with a spoonful of water to prevent burning, stir in 1 lb. of ordinary pitch, mix the two well together, and now stir in nearly 2 lbs. of cow dung, either fresh or else crumbled well up—the fresh is best—boil all this together, stirring well at the same time.

A common and very useful grafting clay can be made by mixing some clay, horse or cow dung, and a little horse hair. It requires beating on a board to make it pliable. When going to use, moisten with a little water.

Barren fruit trees are constantly met with in almost every orchard. The reason of their non-productiveness is a mystery. Sometimes it may be a want of potash in the soil, or a general poorness. A good plan is to apply ashes to the roots; open up the ground round the roots and dig in two or three barrow loads of wood ashes; also spread them liberally on the surface. Orange trees can often be benefitted by the household soap suds thrown round the tree. To take off smut on orange trees make a wash of wood ashes and water, thick enough to stick to the leaves and branches. It will dry on, but the first shower of rain will take it and the smut off together. When boers attack the trees they should be whitewashed—the wash will generally keep them away.

In planting orange seeds the whole orange should be planted. Select a very ripe one, or even let it be rotten, then burst it open and plant. By and bye when the plants come up select those that look strongest, and either transplant or weed out the other. In grafting the orange the common rough skinned lemon is the best. In grafting the Lisbon lemon the common lemon is also the best, and most used as a stock. Both oranges and lemons will bear from pips, but bear quicker when grafted.

Make a strong solution of soft, soap and sulphur or lime, and paint the trunks of the trees affected with blight. It is a very