Summer Meeting, I2d 



period, and in a wet season this frequently results in the destruc- 

 tion of a large per cent of the crop before the fruit is set. Scab 

 is often responsible in part, at least, for the failures attributed 

 to "wet weather" during the blooming period. It is, therefore, 

 important to spray in time to protect the crop against such an early 

 outbreak. Again, when the petals have fallen the young fruits 

 are exposed to the attacks of this fungus, and a second application 

 is therefore required at that period. Moreover, the calyx cup is 

 wide open only at this period, and in order to kill the codling moth 

 a dose of the poison must be dropped into this cup before it closes. 



To make the job more thorough and to protect the new foliage, 

 a third application should be made seven to ten days after the 

 second. 



To repeat then, the correct periods for the application of Bor- 

 deaux mixture and arsenical poison in the treatment of apple scab 

 and codling moth are : 



1. When the cluster buds have opened and exposed the flower 

 buds. 



2. Immediately after the petals have fallen, and 



3. Seven to ten days later. 



Since these directions have been published and republished in 

 various horticultural literature, it would scarcely seem necessary 

 to call attention to them again ; but, unfortunately, many growers 

 do not appreciate the importance of following the directions im- 

 plicitly. It is too often the case that "immediately after the pet- 

 als fall" is interpreted as meaning a week or ten days after the 

 petals fall. Spraying is largely a preventive, meansure intended 

 to protect against the attacks of fungi, and will not cure the trouble 

 after infection has taken place. Hence the importance of prompt 

 action. Often a week's delay means the difference between success 

 and failure. 



It is now, of course, too late to spray for apple scab this year, 

 but the season for bitter rot is JList approaching, and we will now 

 consider this disease. 



BITTER ROT. 



This is a fungous disease of the apple capable of destroying 

 several million dollars' worth of fruit in a single season. Profs. Bur- 

 rill and Blair estimated the loss in four counties of Southern Illi- 

 nois for the season of 1900 at $1,500,000, and during the same 

 season the loss in Missouri and Arkansas was very heavy. In 



H— 9 



