492 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



hold. Wheu isolated trees are found which are badly infested the 

 best thing to do is to destroy them as soon as discovered. 



The qiiestion as to the best spraying material to use is yet un- 

 settled in the minds of many orchardists. It is quite generally agreed 

 among the entomologists of our country as well as among many 

 practical fruit growers, that the lime and sulphur spray is the most 

 effective of all applications, and it is most extensively used in Penn- 

 sylvania. And yet some of the comiuercial preparations are attract- 

 ing great attention and well deserve the consideration of both practi- 

 cal and scientiJic men. The soluble oils, particularly ''Scalecide," has 

 been found very effective in the hands of a few of the leading mem- 

 bers of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Association. Our Secre- 

 tary, Mr. Engle, reports favorably concerning the value of "Scale- 

 cide" and ''Target Brand." Mr. J. H. Ledy, of Franklin county, has 

 been well pleased with the effects of the soluble oils. Mr. Henry T. 

 Moon, of Bucks county, says "Scalecide" is excellent and Joseph W. 

 Anderson, of York county reports that "Scalecide has given better 

 results than lime, salt and sulphur. In connection with these state- 

 ments the fact should be emphasized that lime and sulphur or lime 

 and sulphur with salt added is giving excellent results in our State 

 and elsewhere, where pure materials are used, boiling and mixing 

 properly done and the application thorough. 



COMMERCIAL. FERTILIZERS. 



Commercial fertilizers are used quite extensively by the fruit 

 growers of our State and where used intelligently the results have 

 been highly satisfactory. There is a wide difference of opinion as 

 to the best formula for each particular fruit. One grower claims 

 that a fertilizer containing not less than 15 per cent, of potash 

 should be employed for apples on his soil, while another advocates 

 only 2 per cent, of potash. The question of what to use and the pro- 

 portion of the various elements is largely a local question with each 

 grower and it is practically impossible to find on the market those 

 brands of fertilizers wiiich are best adapted to the various soils and 

 fruits of our State. This renders home mixing highly desirable, for 

 it gives the grower absolute control of the whole question. He can 

 mix the food to suit the land as well as the crop, and actually save 

 from five to ten dollars per ton. Home mixing has also a decided 

 educational value which should not be overlooked. 



TILLAGE. 



The reports of our correspondents on the subject of tillage are 

 very interesting. Little attention is given our general farm or- 

 chards in the way of cultivation, for the trees usually stand in sod 

 and the results are far from satisfaction in most cases. Then there 

 is quite a large class of commercial fruit growers who are very rigid 

 in their ideas, that thorough tillage should be given all orchards, 

 maintaining the supply of humus by the use of manure, or more 

 commonly by the use of cover crops, preferably legumes, as the red 

 clover or crimson clover. This method finds little criticism for it 

 not only secures good fruit, but also keeps the soil in a fertile condi- 

 tion. Quite a large percentage of our correspondents this year re- 

 port excellent results from mulching, particularly when the trees 



