']2 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Of the fungous diseases, apple scab, sooty blotch and fruit 

 spot are the worst. The fungus has a seed or spore which is 

 blown upon the leaves or fruit and germinates when there is 

 a drop of water there to grow in. This seed sends a little root 

 into the leaf or fruit, and once inside, is safe from spray, and 

 beyond our control. The only control measure we have is to 

 have the leaves and fruit covered with sulphur or Bordeaux, 

 before the spore and the water get to cooperating against us. 

 It is harder to tell when the spores will be sown than it is to 

 predict rain, so we must choose the lesser of two evils and 

 spray before the rain and before the first infection takes place. 

 The spores are sown at different times throughout the season, 

 but the scientists have pretty accurate knowledge of the time 

 of the first infection, and the number of sprayings needed to 

 effect good commercial control in most instances. The main 

 point in fighting a fungous disease, then, is to have the tree 

 protected before the raindrop or heavy fog or dew comes to 

 germinate the fungous seed. If the sulphur or copper sulphate 

 is on the leaf first, the rain will dissolve enough so that the 

 little root is blasted when it comes out of the spore to enter the 

 leaf and the fruit is protected from injury or later infections 

 from fungus on the leaves. 



Our insect enemies are of two kinds — those that chew and 

 those that insert the beak and suck sap from inside the tissues. 

 The codling moth and tent caterpillar are examples of the first, 

 and the aphis and scale of the second group. 



Arsenate of lead is now the generally accepted poison to kill 

 the chewing insects and this should be applied before the insect 

 begins eating, or, at the least, when the insect is very small. 



For the sucking insects, we have to wait till they are on the 

 tree and then use a caustic spray such as lime-sulphur that will 

 burn them to death, or a sOapy spray that will cover their 

 breathing pores and smother them, or some form of nicotine. 

 Here, then, is a list of our ammunition : 



Sulphur for fungi. 

 Lime-sulphur for scale. 

 Arsenate of lead for chewing insects. 

 Soap or tobacco, or both, for sucking insects. 

 The chemists have given us plenty with which to fight, and 

 the scientists have worked out the plan of campaign ; but no 



