リンゴ苗の殺菌 Lime-Sulphur solution on apple trees

グラニースミスの主幹が虫食いになっていることに、去年の秋に気付きましたが、見て見ぬふり。今日になって重い腰を上げて支柱を外してみたら、樹皮がボソボソになっているのが2箇所。まずは中間台のすぐ上、グラニースミス本体です（便宜上、A）。木質部が見えています。虫が入り込んでいる穴が見つかればスポイトを使ってでも消毒液を注入したいほどでしたが、どうやら表面的な被害で済んだようです。

I noticed in autumn last year that the trunk of Granny Smith had been damaged by some bugs, but I did nothing since the damage had been done.  Today, I removed the tree prop and found that there were two spots where the bark had been eaten away.  First, the part just above the grafting point (call it A).  Both of my apple trees are grafted twice - the part below the knob in the photo is the scion of a dwarf stock, which was grafted onto the root stock, and the part above the knob is Granny Smith.  On checking the damage, I could not find any bug holes, so it seems that just the bark was damaged.

こちらはもう一箇所の被害で、苗の少し上のほう（B）。

This is another damaged part (B), which is situated above the first one.

石灰硫黄合剤を10倍くらいに薄めてハケで塗りました。今ある石灰硫黄合材は、それまでの500mlが廃止になり、18リットル単位での販売になってから買ったものなので、もう何年も経っています。石灰部分が一部、分離・結晶しているので、実際に使う液体は硫黄の比率が多いと思います。有効期限があるのかどうかも分かりませんが、臭いは相変わらずキツイです。なので、塗り終わったら頭から足まで身に着けているもの全てを洗濯機に放り込んで、シャワー・シャンプー。

I diluted the lime-sulphur solution by 10 times and painted both trees twice, to make sure that they were thoroughly drenched.  They used to sell the solution in 500ml bottles, which was very handy for amateur gardeners like me.  But the regulation was changed so that the minimum quantity available would be 18 liters.  Unless you are a commercial farmer, how can you use up such a quantity in lifetime?  So, my current stock of solution has been locked away since many years ago.  It has such a horrible smell that I have to throw everything on me into the washing machine after finishing the task and have a thorough bath.

手前がグラニースミス、向こうの鉢が「紅の夢」。まだ枝数が少ないので、丁寧に２度塗りしました。これで、いつ春が来ても大丈夫です。ついでに２階バルコニーに置いてある、枝数の少ない「皇帝」棗にも塗っておきました。

The tree in front is Granny Smith, and the one in the back is a red-flesh variety called 'Kurenai-no-yume'.  Since they do not have many branches yet, I painted them twice to be thorough.  Now I can look forward to the arrival of spring any time.  

最近、ハクビシンが屋根の上を駆け回る音がした翌朝、ラズベリーのルビービューティが引っこ抜かれているようになりました。これで３回目。単に引っこ抜くだけでなく、枝が噛み千切られているので更に腹が立ちます。野良猫がこんなことをするとは思えないし、アライグマはもう何年も前に姿を消したはずなので、思い当たるのはハクビシンだけです。今度は他の場所に植え直しましたが、消滅してしまうかも。

Recently, I noticed that after hearing a civet running over my roof during night, the Ruby Beauty raspberry plant was uprooted in the morning.  I have not caught the creature red-handed, but I cannot imagine a cat or a wild bird doing this at night. Moreover, some stems are bitten off. This is the third time, and I am really worried that the plant may not live come spring.  Anyway, I replanted it somewhere else just to be safe.

私が庭仕事をするとき、いつもはタイガが玄関前で座っていますが、今日は石灰硫黄合材を塗る作業だったので、居間に閉じ込めておきました。ホットカーペットの上でお気楽に昼寝です。
Normally, when I do gardening, Taiga sits in front of the porch.  However, today I was using the lime-sulphur solution which cannot be good for anyone's health, so I locked her up in the living room where she had a nap on the electric carpet.

近づくと、ギロッ。

As I sneaked up, she gave me a look.

朝散歩 Morning Walk

 公園で、久しぶりに甲斐犬のヒナとセナに会えました。いつものように、ヒナが嬉しそうに近づいて来ます。

At the park, we met Hina and Sena, the Kaiken sisters.  Hina hurries down the stairs very excited.

タイガも大喜び。

Taiga is equally excited.

階段途中では危ないので下へ降ります。

We came down the stairs to avoid any accidents while greeting.

こうやって見ると毛色が様々。

Such differences in coat colours.

遠くのワンコの姿が気になるヒナとセナ。

Hina and Sena are distracted by the sight of a dog in the distance.

改めて挨拶。

Greeting properly.

ヒナが甘えるような仕草に対して、タイガは耳がピンと立ち、胸も張ってちょっと偉そう？

Hina is deferential to Taiga, since Taiga played with her when Hina was a puppy.  Taiga looking a little haughty?

ヒナ・セナの飼い主さんに頭を撫でられて、タイガの偉そうな態度が崩れました。ヒナ・セナは相変わらず警備員モード。

When Hina's dad stroked Taiga, her haughty attitude disappeared.  Hina and Sena on guard against the stranger dog in the distance.

家の近くを歩いていたら、シェルティーのジョン君、１歳半、とばったり。この子は3代目「ジョン」君です。初代は20年以上前によく見かけた子で、全身黒い毛で大柄。２代目はこの子のような茶系で大柄。３代目のこの子はシェルティーらしい小さめ。初代の子が私に懐こい子だったので個人的には印象が強いですが、飼い主さんによると２代目が一番「優秀」な子だったそうです。

Near our home, we met John, a male Shelty aged 1 1/2 years old.  He is the 3rd 'John' in the family.  I first met the first one more than 20 years ago, a large Shelty with black coat.  The 2nd John was just as large, but with brown and white coat like this individual.  The current John is small and light.  As far as I am concerned, the first John was very affectionate with me.  However, for the owners, the 2nd one was exceptionally superior, and he was almost like a human being.  The owners were so pleased with the 2nd one, that they chose a puppy of the same colouring for the 3rd John (who did not come up to their expectation - to me, he is nevertheless a happy, regular Shelty).  

タイガが耳をペッタンコにして挨拶に行きます。

Taiga greets John's dad with her ears flat.

ジョン君がヤキモチ気味。

John is getting anxious.

この隙に臭いを嗅いじゃえ、とばかりにタイガの後ろへ回ります。

As his dad and Taiga were engaged, John took the opportunity to sniff Taiga.

午後散歩 Afternoon Walk

午後に「柿の木広場」を目指して歩いていたら、少し手前の家でサスケが玄関前で座っていました。タイガのように、家の中が退屈なので道の様子を眺めていたようです。シェパードのような鼻声で挨拶してくれましたが、飼い主さんがそばにいないので、フェンスを通して撫でるだけ。

On our way to the Persimmon Park, we passed in front of Sasuke's house.  Sasuke was sitting in front of the porch.  Just like Taiga, he finds it too boring to be in the house and likes watching the world go by.  He greeted us with a high-pitched whining like a German Shepherd.  Since his dad was not outside, I could only stroke him through the fence.

悲しそうな目でこちらを見ていましたが、サスケを置いて柿の木広場へ向かいました。

Sasuke looked us with his lugubrious eyes, but we left him to continue our walk to the nearby Persimmon Park.

途中の垣根の綺麗なサザンカ。サザンカにしては大輪で見ごたえあります。

Beautiful sasanqua flowers in a hedge.  The flowers were quite large for sasanqua.

柿の木広場は貸し切り状態でした。ひとしきり走り回ったあとは、帰る前のオヤツ。人間用のおやつタイプのニボシです。私の苦手な「はらわた」が無いのと低塩分なのとで、カルシウム摂取に時々買っていますが、タイガも喜んで食べます。

At the Persimmon Park, we had the whole place to ourselves.  After running about to her heart's content, Taiga wanted a treat before heading home.  Today, I gave her dried sardines - these are sold as snacks for humans, with minimum salt, as an extra source of calcium.

カリカリ、ポリポリ

Crunchy

さ、帰ろう。

Now, we can go home.

リンゴちゃん Ringo

 公園に着くと柴犬のリンゴちゃんとその兄のコタク君がいました。久しぶりなので、リンゴちゃんが笑顔で飛んで来ました。

When we arrived at the park, Ringo and her older brother, Kotaku, met us.  Ringo came rushing towards Taiga, having not seen her for some time.

リンゴちゃんの服は唐草模様。

Ringo's outfit with an arabesque pattern - this pattern has a special humorous meaning in Japan.

さっそくタイガに挨拶。

Greeting Taiga right away.

まだ幼いリンゴちゃんの元気に押され気味な11歳半のタイガ。

Taiga is taken aback by Ringo's enthusiastic approach.

リンゴちゃんがはしゃぎ過ぎと思ったのか、コタク君がリンゴちゃんを叱り始めました。飼い主さんたちによると、「挨拶するならオレの方が先だ！」という意味だそうで、ヤキモチではないそうです。
Kotaku thought Ringo's greeting was too much and started telling her off.  According to their mom and dad, he was saying "Don't get ahead of me", and not a show of jealousy.

リンゴちゃんがタイガと距離をとろうとしないので、コタク君がダメ押しで叱ります。

Since Ringo would not keep a distance from Taiga, Kotaku scolded her more.

叱られても戻って来るリンゴちゃん。

Despite being told off, Ringo comes back to Taiga.

コタク君が飼い主さんから注意されています。

Kotaku was told to stay quiet by his dad.

「ま、しょうがないか」と静観。

Kotaku has no choice.

コタク君、ヤキモチに見えますが....　とにかく妹のことが可愛くてたまらない様子。

In my view, Kotaku appears jealous - he has always been possessive of Ringo ever since she was a puppy.  'Ringo' in Japanese means an apple, and she is indeed the apple of Kotaku's eye.

ほんとうに可愛いリンゴちゃん。

I do not blame Kotaku, since Ringo is soooooo adorable.