206 State Horticultural Society. 



DISCUSSION OF INSECTS. 



'N. F. Murray.- — Does poultry in the orchard hold down the 

 insects ? 



Prof. Steadman. — They will tend to keep down the codling moth, 

 leaf crumpler and insects of that kind, but not aphis and such sucking- 

 insects. 



L. A. Goodman. — For two years the leaf crumpler has been very 

 bad in Bates county. 



DISEASES OF THE APPLE. 



Bv Prof. J. C. Whitten, Columbia. 



Among the diseases of the apple we will mention the scab and the 

 skin blotch. These can be kept down by careful spraying w'ith Bor- 

 deaux mixture. We find that four pounds of copper sulphate and 

 four pounds of lime in fifty gallons of water seems to do as well as 

 stronger mixtures. Spray first, before the buds start ; second, when the 

 buds are swelling; third, just before the flowers open; fourth, just 

 after the blossoms fall ; and sometimes it might be well to spray again 

 about two weeks after the petals fall. At the station we found that w^e 

 could save ninety-five per cent of some Janetons from scab; and the 

 second year we had ninety-seven per cent free. Experiments in spray- 

 ing year after vear show that vou can almost entirelv do awav wdth 

 the scab and skin blotch. Bitter rot is more troublesome, and as it does 

 not prevail in the vicinity of the station we have not had as good chance 

 to experiment with it. In our experiments we were able to reduce it, 

 but were not able to hold it in check as we would like. We could 

 lessen it about one-half. 



Root rot. — Of this I think I had better not sav anvthing. One 

 reason is, because I don't know anything about it. We have more of 

 it in the southern part of the state than in the northern. AVe have 

 tried different experiments with lime, salt, ashes and copper, and 

 intend to keep on working with it, in the hope of gaining valuable 

 experience. 



