19 



After the trees are pruned the rough bark should be scraped off the larger 

 branches and trunk with a hoe. This will expose all the scale to the spray. It 

 may be done at any time of the year before spraying, and does not need to be done 

 again for several years. 



SPRAYING. 



When and How Often to Spray. — Unless a tree is badly infested, one 

 thorough annual application of the right mixture at the proper strength applied 



Fig. 11. An old neglected apple tree. Heavy pruning, lowering the top 



and scraping off the bark Is necessary before this tree can be 



thoroughly and economically sprayed (original). 



in spring just before the buds burst will satisfactorily control the scale, but badly 

 infested trees should receive two applications the first year to make a thorough 

 job. Even on these it is quite possible, especially if the weather is dry at the time 

 of spraying and for a few days later, to control the scale completely with a single 

 application; but only the most thorough sprayers succeed in doing so, especially 

 in old apple orchards. One of these two applications may be given in autumn soon 

 after the leaves have nearly all fallen or at any time in the spring when the weather 

 permits; the other should be done preferably just before or as the buds are burst- 

 ing, because the mixture will thereby remain on much longer into the summer and 

 have more value in destroying any young scale there may be ; for these seem unable 

 to settle down and thrive on bark coated with lime-sulphur. 



