REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 109 



the experimenter so that a remedy when discovered might be practicable and thus 

 commend itself generally to the public. 



These experiments covered the trials of over thirty spraying mixtures, and among 

 the fruits included were apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach, and the majority of the small 

 fruits. 



Owing to the difficulty of applying and the cost of making the concentrated Bord- 

 eaux mixture, many other copper salt compounds have been tested, with the result that 

 many were discarded, while a few were recommended for trial. Copper sulphate, or 

 bluestone, having entered into all mixtures giving favourable results, the number of 

 formulae recommended have gradually lessened with each year's experience till at the 

 present time, while we have yet much to learn, the fruit grower need not burden his 

 mind with a bewildering array of receipts or formula?, almost as numerous as the legion 

 of enemies which attack his orchards and vineyards. 



As a result of experiments conducted in 1892, the writer recommended a modified 

 formula for the preparation of Bordeaux mixture. This 1 was given to the public by 

 means of bulletins and circulars during 1892 and 1893. The formula is as follows : — 4 

 pounds of copper sulphate, 4 pounds of lime and 50 gallons of water. The cost of this 

 need not exceed one-half cent per gallon, and admits of the addition and application of 

 Paris green at the same time, and coupled with this was ammoniacal copper carbonate, 

 which will not be used as freely as Bordeaux mixture on account of its greater cost and 

 the increased labour of preparing it. For spraying late in the season, when stains on 

 the fruit are undesirable, it is the most useful agent yet discovered. In copper 

 sulphate we have the base or foundation of both the above mixtures, and a very effec- 

 tive fungicide to apply before the foliage appears. With this trio, backed up by intelli- 

 gence and perseverance, the fruit-grower may largely increase the revenue derived from 

 his orchard. 



EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN 1894. 



Through the co-operation of the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario, it is be- 

 lieved that the value of this work has received such an emphatic confirmation that the 

 resulting impetus will place the practice of spraying to lessen fungous injury, as well as 

 insect attacks, on a plane well out of the reach of controversy. While the benefits 

 arising from the practice have been satisfactorily proved by the writer, as well as by 

 leading fruit-growers, and the system strongly advocated, yet conflicting results obtained 

 here and there continually threw a dark shadow and gave rise to doubt and discussion. 

 This, I am happy to say, culminated in a resolution moved by the retiring President of 

 the Ontario Fruit Growers Association, Mr. A. H. Pettit, at the meeting of the society, 

 held at Peterborough, December, 1893. This resolution read as follows: — "That 

 in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the Director of the Experimental 

 Farms be requested to make during the coming season at several centres of fruit 

 culture a public practical test of the efficacy of the solutions recommended for the prevention 

 of the scab on apples." On recommendation of the Director, the Minister of Agriculture, 

 for the Dominion, recognizing the important interests involved, was pleased to authorize 

 the initiation of the work. Experiments were instituted at seven different centres in 

 the Grimsby and St. Catharines districts. It is a pleasure to record the cordial spirit of 

 co-operation manifested by the fruit growers of the Grimsby and St. Catharines districts 

 and the helpful manner in which they facilitated the progress of the work. The 

 inauguration of the experiments was unavoidably delayed till May 1st, which, on 

 account of the abnormally early spring, was fully two weeks later than desirable. This, 

 followed by the unprecedented and continuous rains during May and June, coupled 

 with the scorching heat and drought of midsummer and autumn, all combined to form 

 a season with conditions most unfavourable to obtaining even average results. Regard- 

 ing the character of the weather, Mr. Wm. Orr, of Stoney Creek, Ont., writing under 

 date of June 18th, says: We have been labouring under almost unsurmountable diffi- 

 culties in trying to carry out our spraying programme. It has rained every day, with 



