Spraying apple trees, with special reference to apple scab fungus

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TIB RAHY .

OF THE
UN IVLR'SI'f'Y
Of ILLINOIS

630.7
no.49-60

AGRICULTURE

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Agricultural Experiment Station.

URBANA, MARCH, 1899,

BULLETIN No. 54.

SPRAYING APPLE TREES, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO

APPLE SCAB FUNGUS.

About eight months ago the Horticultural Department of the Illi-
nois Experiment Station issued a bulletin on orchard cultivation, which
closed with these words: " . . . . while other things have greater or less
effect upon an orchard's health and condition, the prime requisite to
successful orcharding in Illinois is thorough and systematic cultivation."
But while cultivation is the prime requisite, it is, after all, but one
requisite, albeit the chief; for besides the struggle for the conservation
of moisture in his orchard during drought, the orchardist has always
with him the struggle against the insects and fungous diseases which
prey upon his trees and fruit. The object of the present bulletin, then,
is to assist the Illinois fruit grower in his fight against these active ene-
mies of the orchard, and to point out to him, if possible, the best and
most effective means of warfare.

The two enemies most menacing to the apple growing industry of
Illinois are the apple scab fungus and the codling-moth. They, in turn,
find their most deadly foes in Bordeaux mixture and Paris green. A
little investigation will readily determine whether or not it is worth while
for the Illinois apple grower to invest in spraying machinery and begin
the work of exterminating, or at least checking, these nuisances.

181

182 bulletin no. 54. [March,

According to the best authorities on the subject, Illinois has a
larger apple acreage than any other state in the union. According to
the Census report for 1890 there were at that time 3,016 acres of one,
two, and three year old nursery apple trees in the state, or 1,000 acres
more than New York, and 216 acres more than Ohio, the second largest,
which means that these trees are today ten, eleven, and twelve years
old, unless destroyed. About ninety per cent, of the trees on the above
3,0:6 acres were sold for planting in this state. Statistics show, too,
that the number of acres planted to apple trees has yearly increased
since that time, until today, according to the statistics compiled by the
State Horticultural Society, there are more than 150,000 acres devoted
to this fruit in southern Illinois alone. They say, to quote directly:
"That for the counties of Richland, Clay, Jasper and Marion there is a
total of 70,000 acres, with 50 trees to the acre, making a total of
3,500,000 trees. At ten years of age it is estimated that these trees will
bear an average of ten bushels of apples to the tree, making a total for
the four counties of 11,700,000 barrels, or 60,000 car loads. Think of
this! 2,000 train loads of 30 cars each, and we have a faint idea of what
the future for Illinois orchards will be." Granting that ten bushels per
tree is too large an estimate, the fact still remains that there should be
an annual production in these counties of at least 5,000,000 barrels. Or
again, since every one of the 102 counties of the state has a very con-
siderable apple acreage, we may safely reason from this as well as the
above and other estimates, that the annual production of the state
should be at least double the above figures, or 10,000,000 barrels of
apples. But the fact that during the year just past there were very
much less than 1,000,000 barrels of apples of first and second quality
that matured, should cause each and every land owner of this state to
reflect seriously on the causes of this shortage.

The fact is that most apple growers have not given sufficient atten-
tion to the several principles underlying orcharding, and especially that
' relating to spraying. It is also a fact that although Illinois was one of
the pioneers in the matter of combating the codling-moth and other
apple insects, today only a small percentage (perhaps less than ten) of
our apple producers take any precaution whatever to check the ravages
of this insect. Not only this, but not seven per cent, of the apple pro-
ducers in the great apple region of Illinois sprayed their trees during
the past year for their protection against the apple scab fungus. Ac-
cording to the observations carried on at this Station and in a number
of private orchards in the state, this disease is responsible for the loss
of at least $6,000,000, or sixty per cent, of the total loss above referred
to, to the apple growers of Illinois during the past season. This esti-
mate is based upon the supposition that apples were worth one dollar
a barrel.

1899-] SPRAYING APPLE TREES. 183

At the outset, then, let us ask if this disease is really responsible
for this enormous failure; and if so, could the loss have been averted?
The opinion held by many throughout the state in regard to the cause
of the failure of apple orchards during the season of 1898 is that there
was imperfect, or, in many cases, entire lack of pollination, due to the
cold, wet weather during the time of blooming. That this was not true
can be proved by calling attention to the fact that most apple orchards
did set a considerable quantity of fruit, which, however, dropped prema-
turely in from one to four weeks after fertilization; or, again, by
noticing the fact that one or more orchards did bear fruit and that of a
superior quality in places where hundreds in the same localities failed
to produce any. In each such instance that has come under our notice,
the productive orchards were the only sprayed ones. According to our
observations at the State Experiment Station and elsewhere, the true
cause of the premature dropping of apples during the season of 1898,
throughout the greater portion of Illinois at least, was an attack of apple
scab fungus on the young apple and along its stem, thus cutting off the
food supply from the fruit. If there had been no fertilization there
would have been no development of the ovary whatever. If there had
been imperfect pollination, the fruit would have been one-sided or de-
formed, as a result of the failure of one or more carpels to obtain pollen.
Each apple has five cells called carpels, each usually containing two
seeds. These pairs are fertilized by pollen which falls on the stigma
attached to that carpel. If it chance that no pollen falls on a certain
stigma, the seeds in that carpel will not develop and the apple will be
one-sided. But a careful examination failed to bring to light fruit of
this latter character, and in no instance did an examination of the fallen
fruit show non-presence of the apple scab on the stem and fruit. But,
again, if lack of fertilization was the cause of failure, why should one
or more orchards out of a hundred or more in any particular locality
escape the fate of the majority? Surely not because fertilization had
taken place in but one orchard, but because that orchard had been
systematically sprayed for several seasons, and had received judicious
and careful cultivation, which enabled the tree to secure the necessary
moisture for the production of strong fruit buds.

It is undoubtedly true that no one cause is responsible for the re-
curring failure of apple crops in this state, but it is a fact that the
greatest loss is sustained as a result of the two above named enemies —
the apple scab fungus and the codling-moth. The object of this bulletin
is to arouse a greater interest in this subject among the mass of our
Illinois apple producers. It has been said, and doubtless rightly, that
the fruit grower who has not a belief in spraying and the results ob-
tained thereby, has only himself to thank for lack of success. The
many experiment station bulletins, horticultural society reports and

Fig. ]

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Fig. 2, p. 191.

Fig- 3. P- I9i-

1899-] SPRAYING APPLE TREES. 185

periodicals, have contributed a fund of information bearing on this
subject, and it is certainly to be regretted that so few growers have
profited thereby. Those who have failed to get the principles of spray-
ing well in hand during the development of the subject, often do not
have these within their reach when the fact of its advantages has been
finally made known to them. Indeed, there is at the present time a very
great demand for elementary information in regard to this subject.
During the past three months the Horticultural Department of this
Station has received more than two hundred inquiries for light regarding
spraying solutions and spraying machinery. It is because of the evident
demand for this latter class of information that the section on spraying
machinery has been inserted.

Specific Directions.

The following summary of points to be remembered in spraying
apple trees for scab and codling-moth are the best that can be given
from the many series of experiments carried on at this Station and else-
where.

The early spraying with copper sulphate on the dormant wood is
not always advisable, since the application must often be made when
the ground is so soft as to make the injury done by trampling greater
than any benefit received from the spray.

The first application of the combined solutions of Bordeaux mixture
and Paris green made just before the flower buds open is, with respect
to the apple scab fungus, the most important spray of the season.

The second application of Bordeaux mixture and Paris green, made
immediately after the blossoms fall is, with respect to the codling-moth,
the most important; yet is of great value, too, for the apple scab fungus.
In regard to this point Professor Slingerland, on page 59, bulletin 142 of
the Cornell University Experiment Station, says: "The important thing
for the fruit grower to do is to watch the blossoming of his trees and the
developing of the young fruit, and not depend on anything or anybody
else. Simply see to it that there is a good dose of poison put into each
blossom end, and that it is not washed out by rains before nature gets it
protected with the closed calyx lobes." The sooner this second appli-
cation can be made after the blossoms fall the greater will be the per-
centage of larvae of codling-moth killed. From 50 to 90 per cent, of
fruit that would otherwise be ruined by this insect can be saved by
spraying, and at little expense.

A third application of Bordeaux mixture and Paris green should be
made in eight or ten days after the blossoms have fallen, and in many
instances another after a period of two weeks.

i86

BULLETIN NO. 54.

[March,

Fig. 4, p. 191.

F'g- 5- P- i95-

i899]

SPRAYING \ITLE TREKS.

18?

Fig. 6, p. 195

F'g 7. P 195

l88 BULLETIN NO. 54. [M(irc/l,

Some Spraying Experiments.

The Illinois Experiment Station has, since its inception in 1888,
annually carried on experiments with insecticides and fungicides and
their use for controlling fruit enemies. While many valuable results
have been obtained from time to time as a consequence of these syste-
matic and thorough investigations, they were in most instances merely
duplications of work carried on and published by other stations. More-
over, these were conducted upon plants which were grown for some
purpose other than the direct test with spraying solutions, and lacked
the material for illustration which could only be secured by operations
carried on in commercial orchards. Accordingly, in the spring of 1898,
these were supplemented by a thorough set of experiments carried on
for the most part in several acres kindly offered for the purpose by
Mr. H. M. Dunlap of Savoy. These experiments were inaugurated for
the sole purpose of furnishing accurate illustrations of what could be
accomplished in Illinois by thorough and systematic spraying, and by
varying degrees of thoroughness. They had for their object a consid-
eration of the best methods for controlling apple scab fungus, codling-
moth and scurfy bark louse. The latter will not be considered in the
present discussion. For the sake of brevity the details of this work will
be omitted, giving only the results obtained, which are well illustrated
in the accompanying plates.

Applications Made.

It should be borne in mind that both the apple scab fungus and the
codling-moth were in no instance treated separately. That is to say,
when Paris green was applied for the sake of experimentation in con-
trolling the codling-moth, it was done only in connection with the Bor-
deaux mixture, thereby furnishing a like experiment for the scab. This
was because of the fact that it is no longer deemed advisable to make
separate applications for these two pests, since one is entirely sufficient
and the time and labor saved by combining the two is great.

Trees were first treated with the copper sulphate solution March 3 1 st,
and the last application of this was made April 8th. This solution was
applied in varying strengths to different trees, using in some cases one
pound to fifteen gallons of water, while in others one pound to ten gal-
lons of water and one pound to five gallons of water was tried. A care-
ful examination by Mr. Clinton, Assistant Botanist of this Station, made
May 6th, revealed the fact that trees so treated had a much smaller per-
centage of scab than than those not treated. At this date too he found
that the trees treated with the strongest solution of copper sulphate had
very little or no scab on the young leaves, while in the case of the one-
to-ten solution they were not so free, and on those treated with the one-
to-fifteen solution there was considerable scab present. These stronger

i899]

SPRAYING APPLE TREES.

189,

Fig. 8, p. 195.

Fig. 9, p. 195.

190

BULLETIN NO. 54.

[March,

Fig. 10, p. 195

Fig. 11, p. 195.

1899-] SPRAYING APPLE TREES. 191

solutions of copper sulphate were in no way detrimental to the trees; but
in all three cases the effect was soon lost and the three had a similar
appearance when the applications were not followed by the Bordeaux
mixture.

A lime wash was also applied to several trees at the same time, and
in each case consisted of a solution of 2 lb. quicklime to 1 gal. water, or
2 lb. quicklime to 1 and y2 gallons of water. Checks were left in each
case, and an examination on May 8th showed the treated trees to be
practically free from apple scab: yet on May 31st, where these first ap-
plications were not followed by Bordeaux mixture the trees presented
practically the same appearance as the untreated ones, as regarded the
prevalency of the scab.

The second set of applications, made May 5th and 6th, consisted
of Bordeaux mixture and Paris green, in the proportion given in the
formula on page 203, the solutions being combined and both applied at
once. These were sprayed on trees on which the former application
had been made and on trees not before treated, leaving checks in each
case. A photograph of trees so treated, that is, with but one applica-
tion of Bordeaux mixture before blossoms opened, is given in figure 5.

The third application, consisting of the combined mixtures as in
the second application, was made May 10th and nth, after blossoms
had fallen, and in each case applying it to trees before treated and to
previously untreated trees. Another application of this kind was made
May 25th.

The accompanying illustrations, which are actual photographs taken
of these trees and fruit, show better than any written proof the value of
the application of fungicides for the control of the apple scab, if not
so clearly for the other nuisance above referred to.

Description of Cuts.

Figure 1, p. 184, shows two rows of apple trees treated with the
second and third applications above referred to.

Figure 2, page 184, is a good illustration of trees unsprayed in the
adjoining rows to Figure 1. Both photographs were taken September 19th.

Figure 3, p. 184, shows average specimens collected by Mr. Clinton
June 14th. Mr. Clinton had no knowledge of what the numbers referred
to until after the collections were made. No. 1 shows apples from trees
treated with copper sulphate April 1st, Bordeaux mixture and Paris
green May 3d, 10th and 24th. No. 2, Bordeaux and Paris green May
3d and 10th. No. 3, Bordeaux and Paris green May 10th. No. 4,
copper sulphate April 1st. No. 5, unsprayed. These are actual repre-
sentatives of the best fruit secured by one entirely unbiased in the matter.

Figure 4, p. 186, shows trees unsprayed. Photograph taken Septem-
ber 19th.

192

BULLETIN NO. 54.

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Fig. 12, p. 196.

Fig. 13, p. 200.

i899]

SPRAYING FRUIT TREES.

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Fig 14, p 200.

Fig. 15, p. 200.

'94

BULLETIN NO. 54.

[March,

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1899-] SPRAYING MACHINERY. I95

Figure 5, p. 186, shows three trees treated with one application of
Bordeaux mixture and Paris green May 6th, before flower buds had
expanded. Photograph taken September 19th.

Figure 6, p. 187, shows two trees treated with copper sulphate April
1 st, two applications of Bordeaux mixture and Paris green May 3d and
10th, before and after blooming. Photograph taken September 19th.

Figure 7, p. 187, one tree in foreground treated with one application
of copper sulphate April 1st. Photograph taken September 19th.

Figure 8, page 189, tree treated with one application of Bordeaux
mixture May 10th, after the blossoms had fallen. Photograph taken
September 19th.

Figure 9, page 189, shows Grimes golden trees treated with one
application of copper sulphate and two of Bordeaux mixture. Photo-
graph taken October 1st.

Figure 10, page 190, photograph of men spraying Ben Davis trees
for apple scab fungus during the latter part of June. Shows the difficul-
ties which are often met with. It is an illustration too which serves to
force upon our minds the fact that the spraying and pruning of apple
trees are two very closely related subjects. If the trees are not reason-
ably open so as to admit a free circulation of light and air the tree top
will furnish an excellent breeding place for fungous diseases, and when
once started the latter are impossible to get at with spraying solutions.
It is almost impossible to spray such trees to advantage, and the amount
of material necessary in such cases, together with time and expense,
makes the matter of pruning a necessity.

Figure n, page 190, shows specimens of the best apples from trees
treated as follows: No. 1, sprayed with copper sulphate and three appli-
cations of Bordeaux mixture; No. 2, two applications of Bordeaux
mixture — before and after blossoms appeared; No. 3, unsprayed.

Spraying Machinery.

We are constantly asked to give information regarding the best
spray pumps and other appliances necessary for spraying; and for this
reason the Station has been making a thorough test of machines sold by
a few of the leading manufacturers. In looking over the machinery so
far experimented with we have learned that the purchaser should bear in
mind that the money invested in a pump is practically lost should the
machine last no longer than one season. He wants a machine that is
durable; one that will give the greatest force with the least power; and one
that will be within reach of his purse. The cheap iron pumps are rarely
long-lived, and are usually wholly unfit for spraying purposes. They
will not stand the work, are too easily broken, or are destroyed by the
action of copper sulphate. The desirable points in a pump may be
summed up as follows:

I96 BULLETIN NO. 54. [March, '

All working parts should be made of brass. There should be no
leather or rubber valves. There should be no stuffing-box, nor should
the parts be fastened together with iron bolts or screws. In fact, the
brass or alloy pumps are in the end the cheapest, since they are in
every way more durable, and are not corroded by the liquids used or
by simple exposure. A pump that stands above the barrel or that has
any projection whatever is unsteady, especially when there is little
solution in the barrel; and moreover it is likely to catch on the limbs
and be a nuisance generally.

Figure 17, p. 197, shows the Eclipse pump manufactured by Morrill
& Morley, of Benton Harbor, Mich. It is, according to our experience
here, an ideal pump in all respects. All parts that come in contact
with the liquid are brass, and there is no stuffing-box. The agitator,
too, as seen in the cut, consists of a brass blade, and is a satisfactory
means of agitating the liquid. List price, $10 to $18.

The Pomona pump (fig. 18, p. 197), made by the Goulds Mfg. Com-
pany, of Seneca Falls, N. Y. (Chicago Office, 22-24 N. Canal St.) is in
most respects similar to the Eclipse, with the exceptions which can be
seen by comparing the cuts. This is a pump which we can highly
recommend, and which is listed at from $10 to $20. Figure 23 shows
a good mechanical agitator which is on the market by the above named
company and also by Wm. Stahl of Quincy, 111. Mr. Stahl also has
the "Excelsior spray outfit No. 22," which is similar to the Pomona,
and is also recommended.

The Advance Spray pump (fig. 27, p. 199), manufactured by the
Deming Company of Salem, Ohio, and for sale in Illinois by their
Agents, Messrs. Henion & Hubbell, 61 N. Jefferson St., Chicago, is in
every way an admirable machine, and is well spoken of by those experi-
ment stations that have made a thorough test of it. The list price of
this machine is $18.

The Kerowater pump (fig. 19, p. 198), for the mechanical mixture
of water and kerosene oil, is one of the leading machines of its kind
on the market, and is made by the Goulds Mfg. Co., already referred
to as the makers of the Pomona pump. List price, $14 to $18.50.
The Peerless kerosene sprayer (fig. 26, p. 199), made by the Deming
Company, for the same purpose, js also an excellent machine. Its list
price is $26 to $35.

Figure 12, p. 192, shows a handy arrangement for spraying pur-
poses, and one that can be fixed up by almost any one. It consists of
three barrels of a capacity of fifty gallons each, connected by hose and
galvanized iron pipes fitted with stop cocks. These stop cocks enable
the barrels to be separated at will, thus carrying three different solutions
at one time, or allows the mixtures to drain from one barrel to another.

i899.]

SPRAYING MACHINERY.

I97

i98

BULLETIN NO. 54.

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i899]

SPRAYING MACHINERY.

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Fig. 24, p. 201.

Fig. 25, p. 201.

Fig 26, p. 196.

Fig. 27, p. 196.

200 BULLETIN NO. 54. [Marc/l,

All can be drained dry, especially if the front wheels of the wagon are
allowed to stand for a few minutes in a slight depression of the ground.
The pump used here is the Eclipse seen at fig. 17, p. 197. The truck is
the Farmer's Handy Wagon, manufactured by the Farmer's Handy
Wagon Co., of Saginaw, E. S., Michigan. The low wheels of this
wagon together with the one agitator give sufficient motion to the wagon
to keep the solutions agitated. Otherwise the second and third barrels
should each be fitted with an agitator as seen in fig. 23, p. 198.

• Fig. 13. p. 192, shows the three barrels and their couplings, together
with hose and bamboo extensions at nearer range. Fig. 14, p. 193, is
the Eclipse pump mounted on an Eclipse special tank manufactured
by Morrill & Morley, Benton Harbor, Mich. This tank is sufficient to
hold 250 gallons, and as seen in the figure is mounted on a Farmer's
Handy Wagon. This is the machine used by Mr. H. M. Dunlap, of Savoy.

Fig. 15, p. 193, shows the apparatus and one barrel seen in figures

12 and 13 mounted on a cart made from two wheels from an old seed

t drill provided with axle platform and shafts. This can be made by any

fruit grower for himself, and is a very serviceable outfit, not only for

orchards but for other fruits as well.

Fig. 16, p. 194, shows the following nozzles and other appliances:

Xo. 1. Double Vermorel nozzle (showing side).

No. 2. " " " ( " end).

No. 3. " " " on bamboo extension.

No. 4. Shut-off on bamboo.

No. 5. Inner and outer views of reducing caps for Vermorels.

No. 6. Vermorel nozzle attached to brass extension rod.

These Vermorels, all things considered, are the best of all nozzles.
They throw a double, round, misty spray, and are provided with lances
for cleaning should they become clogged. This cleaning is done by
tapping the lance on a limb. They should always be mounted on a
bamboo extension pole, since the spray does not reach any great dis-
tance. Figs. 20 and 22, p. 198, show two styles of the double Vermorel
nozzle. Fig. 21, p. 198, shows a single Vermorel nozzle.

No. 7 shows a McGowen nozzle, which is one of the very best
nozzles manufactured, and is made by John G. McGowen, of Ithaca,
N. Y. It is provided with a piston which is easily regulated by spring,
and is in no danger of becoming clogged as will sometimes happen with
the Vermorel. It has also a greater carrying power than the Vermorel.

No. 8. A Gem nozzle, not so good as the former.

Nos. 9 and 10 show the Calla nozzle, which has a great carrying
power, and is also quite reliable, but is not considered so good as either
the Vermorel or McGowen.

No. li, is the Fuller nozzle, which has a greater carrying power
than any other make, but is too wasteful of material to be recommended.

1899] SPRAYING MACHINERY.

20I

No. 12, shows the pliers used for putting in place the brass hose
coupling No. 13.

No. 14. Iron couplers to which the hose is attached when a coup-
ling is desired.

No. 15. A pair of pipe tongs, which are very serviceable for tight-
ening hose couplings, especially where the union is made to the pump.

No. 16. Two reducers, used for attaching either ^ or ^ in. nozzle
to hose or rod.

No. 17. Two views of a very handy and easily adjusted hose
clamp.

No. 18. Plug used when one attachment only of hose to pump is
desired.

Fig. 24, p. 199, shows the Success kerosene sprayer, manufactured by
the Deming Company, Salem, O., and is a very serviceable pump for
kerosene and water when treating small trees infested with scale insects.
Price $10.00.

Fig. 25, p. 199, shows the copper strainer, 12 in. in diameter with
brass wire cloth mesh, manufactured by Morrill & Morley, Benton Har-
bor, Mich. Price, $1.50. This is one of the indispensable pieces of
apparatus used in connection with spraying. Burlap or other cloth
strainers should not be depended upon for straining Bordeaux mixture,
since lint is almost sure to get into the solution and clog the nozzle.

The bamboo extensions, such as are seen in Fig. 13, p. 192, are for
the purpose of carrying the nozzle up into the tops of the trees, thereby
ensuring a more thorough job than could be otherwise done. These are
lined with copper tubing, which makes them durable, and are in every
way a satisfactory and quite indispensable acquisition to spraying appa-
ratus.

In regard to hose. We find that the y% in. rubber tubing is in every
way the most satisfactory hose to use, on account of its lightness and
durability. It can be procured for six cents a foot from most dealers.
The % in. hose as seen in Fig. 13, p. 192, is too heavy for ordinary use,
but is the most durable, especially when wrapped with wire as seen in
the cut. Another objection to this hose is the fact that that found on
the market for less than 12 to 20 cents per foot is too short-lived to be
recommended. The cheaper grades of hose should never be purchased
for spraying purposes, as they will prove the more expensive in the long
run.

Spraying Solutions.

A.
For controlling insects which chew their food, such as the codling-
moth, canker-worm, bud-moth, case-bearer and tent caterpillar,

use the following:

202 BULLETIN NO. 54. [March,

i. — Paris green, i lb.; 150-250 gallons of water.

Never put the dry Paris green powder into a quantity of water ex-
pecting thoroughly to mix it therein. Put say one pound into a gallon
jug, then fill the same two-thirds full of water. Cork and churn vio-
lently for a few moments, when every part of the powder will be in con-
tact with water. Add this concentrated solution in such proportion as
to give the desired amount to the larger quantity of liquid, with which
it will readily and thoroughly mix.
2. — London purple, 1 lb.; 150-250 gallons of water.

Prepare same as above. We prefer Paris green, because it is less
variable in composition than the London purple, and also less caustic
in its action.

B.
For controlling such insects as the woolly aphis, plant louse, oyster-
shell bark louse, scurfy bark louse, and San Jose scale, all of which

are sucking insects, use the following:
1. — Kerosene emulsion.

This solution is made by dissolving y2 lb. of hard soap in one gallon
of hot water, and to this adding two gallons of kerosene oil. Emulsify
thoroughly by driving this solution repeatedly through a force pump or
any spray pump back into the vessel originally containing it. Dilute each
gallon of this emulsion with 15 to 30 gallons of water for the aphides
and plant lice above referred to. For San Jose scale dilute each gallon
with five gallons of water and apply on the dormant wood only. For
oyster-shell bark louse and scurfy bark louse, in making application
after leaves of tree have expanded, use the dilute solution, or when
treating dormant trees, use the concentrated solution as in the case of
the San Jose scale.
2. — Kerosene and water applied by means of the " Kerowater " pump

(fig. 19, p. 198), or "Peerless Kerosene Sprayer" (fig. 26, p. 199).

For the scale insects above described use a 30 per cent, to 40 per
cent, mixture when applying to dormant wood. After leaves have
expanded use from a 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, mixture. A 50 per cent,
mixture of kerosene and water may be applied with impunity to apple
trees. Although there has been some difference of opinion in regard
to the use of strong mixtures of kerosene and water on fruit trees, it is
now a settled fact that pure kerosene alone may be sprayed and brushed
on the limbs and trunks of apple trees during dry days without any injury
whatever. We have repeatedly made such applications, not only to
apple but also to pear trees. This mixture, however, should be used
with caution, and preferably during weather when evaporation takes
place rapidly. Especial care should be used in applying kerosene and
water to peach trees, as, when used on them, many disastrous results
have been reported.

1899-] SPRAYING SOLUTIONS. 203

3. — Whale oil soap, 2 lb. to one gallon water.

This solution is in high favor for the control of the San Jose and
other scale insects.

C.

For controlling fungous diseases, such as apple scab, rot, rust and

mildews, use the following:
1. — Copper sulphate, 1 lb. to 15 gallons of water. To be used on

dormant wood only.

The object of this solution is to kill the spores of the apple scab
fungus and of other diseases which may be present before the buds ex-
pand. Put the desired quantity of copper sulphate in a coarse bag and
suspend it in the water near the surface. In a few hours the sulphate
will be entirely dissolved. A more expeditious method, should a stock
solution not be desired, is to dissolve the required quantity of sulphate
in hot water.

2. — Bordeaux mixture. 6 lb. copper sulphate, 4 to 6 lb. quicklime,

50 gallons water.

Dissolve the copper sulphate in the manner described under 1:
slack the desired quantity of lime in a sufficient quantity of water; then
mix the two solutions, carefully strain through the wire sieve (fig. 25),
and to this add water to make quantity given above. This is one of the
best fungicides, and rarely will it be found to injure foliage. Should it
do so, however, add a greater quantity of lime, which will lessen the
the caustic effect of the copper sulphate. It is a solution, however,
which stains fruit, and, consequently, later in the season the following
mixture is in high favor.
3 — Ammoniacal carbonate of copper solution. Copper carbonate, 1

oz. ; enough ammonia to dissolve the copper carbonate; 9 gallons

water.

Before making the solution, the ammonia should be prepared as
follows: dilute the ammonia with 7 or 8 volumes of water, using am-
monia of about 26 per cent, strength. Gradually add this to the
copper carbonate until the latter is entirely dissolved.

D. Stock solutions.

Where a great deal of spraying is to be done it is often more con-
venient to keep stock solutions of copper sulphate and lime on hand
for the more expeditious preparation of the spraying mixtures when
wanted. They may be prepared in the following manner:

Lime: — Keep the lime in a barrel partially sunk in the ground,
where it will keep indefinitely in the form of paste if the surface is kept
covered with water.

Copper sulphate: — Dissolve the copper sulphate in water, two
pounds of copper sulphate to one gallon of water. Two gallons of the

204 bulletin no. 54. [March, 1899.

solution then will contain the required amount of copper sulphate for a
barrel of Bordeaux mixture.

E. Cautions.

Be sure you know what you want to spray for before commencing
the operation. Be prompt: be thorough: be persistent. Use fresh
Bordeaux mixture, and not that which has been standing for some time
after mixing. Keep the ammonia and copper carbonate mixture in
glass-stoppered bottles, thoroughly corked, when not needed.

Joseph Cullen Blair,

Assistant Horticulturist.

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