50 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



brown rot and scab, two of the greatest enemies of the com- 

 mercial peach grower. As a means of control for apple scab 

 it was fairly good, but not to the same degree as either the home- 

 made or commercial concentrated forms. In addition to the 

 action of these sprays as fungicides was the encouraging fact 

 that they appeared to have little or no injurious effect upon the 

 foliage when used at proper dilutions, and no injury to the fruit 

 appears to have been reported. Both Paris green and arsenate 

 of lead were used, with the results in favor of arsenate of lead. 



For the literature bearing on this subject and the details of 

 the experiments just mentioned those who may be interested 

 will find references thereto in two bulletins soon to be issued 

 by the Maine Experiment Station, one on apple diseases and 

 their control, the other on the results of this season's spraying 

 with lime-sulphur sprays in the orchards at Highmoor Farm. 



When the Station took charge of the farm last summer, its 

 first attempt at orchard renovation was a thorough spraying 

 of all the trees, which were badly infested with insects and 

 fungi. Bordeaux mixture was used, and although the pests 

 were brought under control considerable injury, ascribed in 

 part to the spray, was noticed on the leaves. For a large part 

 of such injury, however, the weakened condition of the trees 

 may be held responsible. It is not too much to assume that a 

 tree of weakened vitality is more susceptible to causes of injury 

 of any sort, as it has less natural resistance to them. 



As you know, nearly all our trees of any promise are Ben 

 Davis, and this variety is notably susceptiMe to spray injury. 

 It was, therefore, decided to test out through a series of seasons 

 some of the forms of lime-sulphur solutions which had been 

 sc favorably reported on in other places, 



THE PROBLEM. 



The questions to be asked by this experiment might be stated 

 as follows : 



1. Are self -boiled, home-boiled or commercial lime-sulphur 

 sprays now on the market in Maine equal in efficiency to bor- 

 deaux mixture for the control of apple scab? 



2. May the damage from spray injury on susceptible trees 

 like the Ben Davis be eliminated by such sprays? 



