256 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



parasites. Jast such breeding-places of disease you find everywhere, 

 even in the orchards of such that are generally ready to offer advise^ 

 Such men usually attribute the cause to a bad dew, something lacking 

 in the soil, etc., and spraying is what they generally recommend. Thi& 

 reminds me of a man raising a family in filth and neglect, thinking that 

 if any of the members take sick, he knows of a certain remedy that 

 will cure them. I do not know what to think of a man that in these 

 days of progress in modern horticulture expects to raise good fruit in 

 such a way. 



I have now given my conclusions, which I have reached after a 

 careful study of the parasite, and think that if neighborhoods would 

 combine and take advantage of the weak points in the life-history of 

 apple-scab, which I have set forth, much could be done toward holdings 

 it in check, at any rate, the orchards would then be in a shape that 

 some benefit could be expected from spraying, which otherwise would 

 be doubtful to my mind. 



SPRAYING. 



"Where other methods fail, of course spraying has to be resorted 

 to. First see that you get a good pump with suitable nozzles. As the 

 formulas of insecticides are more or less modified every year, it is 

 best to write to the Experiment Station of your state, providing your 

 state has one that makes experiments, if not, to the Department of 

 Agriculture, and get the latest formula. Spray once before the leaves 

 are out with the solution as strong as the tree can stand it. This is to,, 

 if possible, kill the parasite upon the young shoots where it is peren- 

 nial, l^ext keep your eyes upon the spores and prevent their germi- 

 nation. When the apples are the size of a pea, or as soon as the petals 

 fall, spray with a weaker solution, and do so again in a week ortendays^ 

 and about once more after that. In case of rain, you will have to spray 

 oftener. You must here exercise your own judgment. Now you are 

 done, as far as spraying is concerned. Remember, any spores that you 

 fail to kill will send out a germ-tube, penetrate the cuticle, where it will 

 form a plant-body between it and the epidermal cells. As it grows it 

 will rupture the cuticle and the first little spots will be seen, first not 

 as large as the head of a pin. Whenever it gets that far it is beyond 

 your reach, and to spray then will do no more good than to throw a 

 club after a rabbit after it gets into a hole. It will thus be seen that 

 the growth of the scab cannot be checked by spraying. The only 

 thing that will check it is to deprive it of moisture in the way of prun- 

 ing, etc., as stated above. 



A great deal of very misleading matter about vegetable parasites 

 is published in the horticultural press. I think that it is about time 



