EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 87 



secured for planting next year it is proposed to continue the work on 

 a somewhat larger scale. The work will not only include the testing of 

 new kinds but will take up different methods of handling the plantation 

 and a comparative trial of commercial fertilizers and stable manure. 



During the spring the peach trees at South Haven have shown in a 

 striking manner the efifect of spraying for the leaf-curl. While many of 

 the varieties in neighboring orchards were seriously injured by this dis- 

 ease, as were a number of trees left unsprayed in the Station orchard, 

 the trees that received an application of copper sulphate solution with 

 two pounds in fifty gallons of water had practically no curled leaves 

 upon them. This corresponds with the results secured in previous years. 

 Several reports have been received indicating that the treatment has not 

 been equally successful in all cases, but it would seem that this must be 

 due to the fact that the work was not thoroughly performed. From the 

 nature of the disease, it is evident that in order to be effectual, every bud 

 upon the trees must be soaked with the solution. 



POWER SPRAYING MACHINERY. 



For several years inquiries have been received regarding power spray- 

 ing machinery for large orchards. Some years ago tests were made of 

 spraying machinery by which power for the working of the pump was 

 supplied from the wheels of the wagon, but this was not found entirely 

 satisfactory. This spring a test was made of a gasoline engine for this 

 purpose. The kind used was the National, which is manufactured by the 

 National Engineering Co., Saginaw, Mich. This company has made a 

 study of the subject and furnished us for trial a combined engine and 

 pump upon one base. The cylinder and working parts of the pump are of 

 Tobin bronze, which adapts it for use with Bordeaux mixture and copper 

 sulphate solutions. The engine is one and one-half horse power and, by 

 means of the relief valve set at 110 pounds, it is possible to return any 

 surplus material to the tank and, at the same time, keep the liquid 

 thoroughly agitated. . The pump is designed to carry from two to four 

 lines of hose and with a pressure of from a hundred to one hundred ten 

 pounds is able, with Vermorel nozzles, to produce the very finest kind 

 of mist. As compared with an ordinary hand pump, where the pressure 

 usually varies from fifty to seventy-five pounds, the difference in the 

 spray produced is very marked. 



The cost of gasoline for running the engine varies from fifteen to 

 twenty-five cents per day according to the amount of time consumed in 

 filling the tank and the number of streams carried. The engine will 

 not only do the work of one man but it will be done in a far better manner 

 and at less than one-sixth the expense. An engine and pump, such as 

 has been described, with bronze working parts and other equipment in 

 the way of tank, hose, nozzles, etc., costs about |250. While a small 

 orchardist cannot afford such an outfit, the owner of a large orchard will 

 find it econemical, as it will do the work performed by three ordinary 

 barrel outfits and thus will be able to pay for itself in one or two seasons. 



DUST SPRAYERS. 



Some fifteen years ago we tested a number of "powder guns" for apply- 

 ing insecticides in a dry form. For many insects that attack vegetables 

 and bush fruits they were found quite effectual if used while the dew was 



