r.42 ANNUAL TIRPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



deaux mixtnie, showing tlie maiked superiority of the former fungi- 

 cide as a foliage spray. 



Tlie apple leaf-spot disease was controlled equally well by both 

 fungicides, but the lime-sulphur solution showed some superiority 

 over Bordeaux in its tendency toward the control of cedar rust, a 

 disease which seems to yield more readily to the sulphur than to 

 the copper sprays, 



EFFECT ON THE FRUIT 



There was no appreciable difference between the lime-sulphur 

 solution and Bordeaux mixture in the control of the diseases that 

 occurred on the fruit. Apple scab, fruit spot and sooty blotch were 

 ccmtrolled equally well by both fungicides. But particularly in 

 the case of the Ben Davis there was a decided difference in the 

 appearance of the fruit sprayed with these two fungicides. The 

 fruit sprayed with Bordeaux was considerably russeted although 

 very little of it was dwarfed or distorted as often occurs with Bor- 

 deaux sprayed fruit. The Winesaps were also russeted though not 

 so much so as the Ben Davis, while the Yorks showed only a slight 

 roughening of the skin. The latter variety is almost immune to 

 Bordeaux russet. 



In all the varieties sprayed with the lime-sulphur solution the 

 fruit was almost entirely free from spray russet. The natural russet 

 at the stem end was enlarged slightly and on some specimens this 

 ran over on to the side of the apple, but apples which were at all 

 badly russeted were extremelv rare. As a rule the fruit was smooth, 

 clean and highly colored: placing it in a grade higher than that 

 sprayed with Bordeaux mixture which would mean twenty-five cents 

 to fifty cents a barrel in price. 



ADOPTION OF LIME-SULPHUR IN VIRGINIA 



As a result of the experiments conducted in Virginia during 1909 

 by the Bureau of Plant Industry, practically all of the Virginia 

 apple orchards were sprayed with the lime-sulphur solution during 

 the past season. We personally examined some of these orchards 

 and have had reports from many of them. In every case, so far 

 as we have been able to ascertain, the results were satisfactory, 

 both as to the control of diseases and as to the effect of the spray 

 on fruit and foliage. In the early part of the season there was a 

 number of reports of injury to the young leaves, but in no case did 

 this prove to be serious. In the Yellow NewtowTi orchards where 

 bitter-rot is a serious factor, the lime-sulphur solution was used in 

 the early treatments for scab and leaf-spot, and this w^as followed 

 b}' applications of Bordeaux for bitter-rot. This plan was entirely 

 successful, the russeting of the fruit having been avoided and the 

 bitter rot disease controlled. 



CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 



The evidence obtained from various experiments conducted by 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and several of the experiment 

 stations seems to warrant the following conclusions : 



