718 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



tablishment of a Division of Horticulture in the Department of Agriculture of 

 this State for the encouragement and fostering of the fruit and horticultural 

 interests to such an extent as the importance of the industry deserves." 



In a general discussion which followed on the question of spray- 

 ing for leaf curl and other diseases, Mr. Youngs urged the importance 

 of early spraying in order to be most effectual. In this work "an 

 ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Since he had fol- 

 lowed this method he has had six successive crops of peaches. Prof. 

 ^Yatts thought that but little good could be done after trees were 

 in leaf, as an application strong enough to do any good would de- 

 stroy or at least injure the foliage. Mr. Youngs also strongly ad- 

 vocated spraying apple trees for destruction of codling moth, urg- 

 ing the importance of making the application before the fruit turns 

 down. Tests between rows sprayed and unsprayed showed the 

 former were practically immune, while on the latter much of the 

 fruit was worthless or ofinferior grade. 



PROF. WATTS: I believe Mr. Youngs' method is correct. All dis- 

 eases of fruits are carried b}' spores or germs. They live over win- 

 ter in twigs and buds, and any application before foliage ai)pears 

 is preventive. The finest specimens of apples on our tables here 

 are from tb^ orchard of Mr. Simons and they are perfect and free 

 from scab and disease, because he has sprayed for years. 



PROF. HEIGES: Some of our fruit growers make the error of 

 spraying with the wrong mixture or at the wrong time. Bordeaux 

 mixture, while an excellent preventive of fungous diseases, scab, 

 blight, etc., is of no special value as an insecticide, and Paris green, 

 London purple and similar poisons have but little effect as fungi- 

 cides, but are excellent remedies for codling moth, tent caterpil- 

 lar and other injurious insects. Spraying for insects should be suc- 

 cessive, as they pass from the egg to the larva state. All forms 

 of fungous diseases propagate more rapidly in damp weather. It 

 is a principle of nature that the smaller and lower forms of life are 

 most tenacious of life, and may survive several years without los- 

 ing the power of development. 



MR. LESHER: What is the best time to spray for codling moth, 

 when in bloom or after the bloom has passed? 



PROF. HEIGES: Not until at least three-fourths of the bloom 

 has passed. Pear and apple blossoms do not all open at the same 

 time, but during a period of 6 or 8 days in fine weather. It is a safe 

 rule to spray when the petals have fallen. 



Adjourned. 



