Country Life
Healthy Trees Particular dates matter much more in rural than in urban life. The close season for partridges and pheasants which begins on February 2nd—not as was intended on February 1st—is one. Another that is perhaps not sufficiently ap- preciated by gardeners in the country more or less coincides. The best date for using some of the winter sprays that have of late increased their reputation is the last week of January and the first of February. That, at any rate, is the period chosen by horticultural research workers in Norfolk, where very valuable educational work is being done. The tar oils now widely used for winter spraying are not sovereign. Some aphis eggs are apt to scorn their ministration ; but there is no doubt that this type of winter spray has done yeoman service in keeping orchards free from a number of pests ; and since most of the tree maladies, whether due to insect or fungus, to aphis or canker, to caterpillar or American blight, are infectious, it behoves us all as good citizens to look to the health of our trees. If we begin by a tar spray at the end of January, we shall have done good work to ourselves and our neighbours ; and county instructors and county agricultural stations will provide us with all the information * we need. may
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