112 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1906 



may cause even greater loss than it did in 1904. The first spraying should be made 

 with Bordeaux mixture just before blossoming; the second just after the fruit has 

 set, and the third and fourth at intervals of about a week. There should then be three 

 sprayings with ammoniacal copper carbonate. 



SPEAYING AND SPEAYING MIXTUEES. 



The practice of spraying crops for the prevention of fungous diseases and insect 

 pests is not growing in popularity as rapidly as the good results obtained would warrant, 

 and notwithstanding the fact that year after year the advantages of spraying are im- 

 pressed upon Canadian fruit growers from many sources. Spraying at the best, how- 

 ever, is an unpleasant operation and when the results are not always so apparent as 

 killing potato beetles with Paris green, fruit gTowers are liable to get discouraged and 

 decide to let spraying alone and take their chances. No greater mistake could be made. 

 The good results from spraying -to prevent injury from fungous diseases and injurious 

 insects have been so frequently proven that spraying should be carried on by every 

 fruit grower, just as he cultivates his field, in faith that good will result. Some years 

 the results are not so pronounced as in others, but spraying is an insurance and the 

 average results will well compensate for all the trouble and expense incurred. Thorough- 

 ness in spraying is, however, essential. A spraying calendar was published at the Cen- 

 tral Experimental Farm this year which will be sent free to any one applying for it. 

 This calendar gives information as to the time of spraying for the various diseases and 

 insect pests affecting orchard and garden crops, and the formulas for preparing the 

 different fungicides and insecticides recommended, and this will be found most useful 

 for reference. 



SODA BORDEAUX (BURGUNDY MIXTURE). 



The Soda Bordeaux, or Burgundy Mixture as it is knovra in Great Britain, is made 

 with carbonate of soda or washing soda instead of lime for neutralizing the sulphate 

 of copper. Owing to the difficulty of getting lime in many places in the country, and 

 because of the occasional clogging of nozzles by the lime when it has not been properly 

 slacked or strained, considerable attention has been given in Canada of late to the Soda 

 Bordeaux. Moreover, the experience of those who have used it in large quantities in 

 the old coxmtry for several years for spraying potatoes is that if it is applied when 

 freshly made it will adhere better than ordinary Bordeaux. At least one, and perhaps 

 several Ontario fruit growers have been using the Soda Bordeaux successfully for 

 several years in spraying apple trees for the prevention of Apple Spot fungus. It does 

 not discolour the fruit as much as ordinary Bordeaux and is liked on this account. 



It is not, however, recommended instead of Bordeaux mixture for spraying fruit 

 trees, as sufficient evidence has not yet been obtained of its relative value. 



During the past season several Canadian fruit growers used the Soda Bordeaux for 

 the first time and with it Paris Green. Considerable injury to foliage resulted. The 

 cause of this injury is explained by Mr. F. T. Shutt, Chemist, Exi^erimental Farms, in 

 the August number of the Canadian Horticulturist, where he writes : — ' When Paris 

 green is mixed with ordinary Bordeaux it is not dissolved, but remains in suspension 

 and experience has shown that no injury results from the use of such a spray. When, 

 however, Paris green is added to Burgundy mixture it is partly dissolved by the excess 

 of washing soda used in the preparation of the spray and a soluble arsenical compound 

 formed which is more or less corrosive to foliage. It has long been known that soluble 

 arsenical compounds have this injurious effect upon foliage, and consequently cannot 

 be used in insecticidal mixtures.' In some experiments conducted by Mr. Shutt at the 

 Central Experimental Farm, the details of which will be found in his annual report 

 for this year, it was shown that injury to foliage resulted when ai'senical poisons were 



