204 State Horticultural Society. 



all have more or less faith in its efficiency, and yet, even among our pro- 

 gressive growers, it is not practiced to the near extent it should be. 

 Through publicity and agitation, the Fruitman can accomplish much 

 good work along this line. 



Presuming that the general features of this topic will be treated by 

 others who will take part in this symposium, I shall endeavor to call at- 

 tention to a few of the minor, yet important details, which are often over- 

 looked. 



In order for spraying to become a general operation, it is quite nec- 

 essary that the work shall be placed on as simple a basis as possible, both 

 with reference to the compounding of the chemicals and the number of 

 applications required. With reference to the number of applications 

 necessary, some of the recent insecticides have simplified this part of the 

 proposition. The lead arsenate, as experiments have demonstrated, ad- 

 heres to the foliage very much l>etter, and under our common spring con- 

 ditions, is more effective as an insecticide than Paris green. The un- 

 certainty of our weather is one of the most serious drawbacks to ef- 

 fective spraying. A thorough application may be made one day and a 

 heavy rain the following night will undo the whole thing. It is under 

 these conditions that we have found the use of some form of lead arse- 

 nate especially advantageous. It is more adhesive and will cling to the 

 foliage in a considerable quantity when Paris green is entirely washed 

 away. 



The arsenate of lead may be prepared at home according to the reg- 

 ular formida or secured in a commercial form as Disparene or Swift's ar- 

 senate of lead. The two latter compounds contain some additional sub- 

 stances which seems to give them an adhesive quality to an unusual degree. 

 These materials come in tin cans in the form of paste and are ready for im- 

 mediate application upon being dissolved in water. They give excellent 

 results and are particularly convenient for the amateur — the only criticism 

 being their excessive price. The present retail price of both these com- 

 pounds is entirely too high. 



Another chemical which I think will come into general use is green 

 Arsenoid. This is much like Paris green, but much more finely pulverized, 

 hence remains in suspension considerably longer. It costs about the same 

 as Paris green, and if it remains staple in its chemical composition, will 

 displace the former with many growers. 



Delay and often annoyance is often caused by the choking up of the 

 nozzle with gritty material from the lime. A good grade of lime rock 

 should be secured to begin with, and if the slacking is done slowly, it will 

 contain much less of this gritty formation. It is also advisable to strain 

 the lime through a sieve or coarse gunny-sacking as it is poured into a 



