FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. 127 



SPRAYING. 



Owing to the fact that dangerous insects and destructive fungus dis- 

 eases are on the increase, no orchard operation is more important or will 

 do more to keep the trees in health tlian intelligent and systematic 

 si>raying. Our peach orchards from the youngest to the oldest are annu- 

 ally given a thorough spraying of home made fire cooked "'Sulphur and 

 Lime'' before the buds open, made as follows: Sixty pounds Sulphur, 

 40 pounds of lime cooked in 00 gallons of water for thirty to forty min- 

 utes, afterAvards diluted to 200 gallons. 



After the fruit sets and the calyx dro])S off the fruit we spray again 

 with what is knoAvn as the Self-P>oiled Sulpliur and Lime to which we 

 add 8 pounds of Arsenate of Lead to 200 gallons of mixture. We add 

 the Arsenate of Lead to control the curculio. I have found the self- 

 boiled sulphur and lime to be the best and safest fungicide that has yet 

 been discovered for the peach in controlling the ]>rown spot and scab, 

 and also the Bro^^•n rot. Have used for three years. 



For the I>rown rot we make a third spraying about four to six weeks 

 before the fruit ripens. , 



Since I commenced using the self-boiled sulphur and lime my orchards 

 have been practically free from any fungus diseases and causing no 

 injury to foliage. 



Practical results from use of self-cooked Sulphur and Lime: No 

 scale, curl leaf, no Urown rot, no spots or any scab or any blemishes 

 of any kind, no injury to leaves. Perfect fruit, larger and higher and 

 better fruit buds, and better crop prospects for succeeding year. 



TILLAGE. 



1 know of no fruit A\iiich responds so (piickly to thorough and careful 

 cultivation as the peach. In fact it is al)Solutely essential to the grow- 

 ing of this luscious fruii. 



Usually the first two years, some hoed or cultivated crop may be 

 grown in between the trees, but after the second year it is better to 

 give the young orchard the entire ground. Cultivation of the bearing 

 orchard should be commenced by ganjj,- i)lowing, plowing not over three 

 inches deep. I like to have this work done at least by the middle of May. 

 ^Ve then follow the i>low Avitli s])ring tooth harrow and level down and 

 also cultivate around the trees both ways with a grape hoe with a harrow 

 attachment in the place of the hoe, which fits orchard up in elegant con- 

 dition and eliminates most of the hoeing. We then follow with a ninety 

 tooth spike harrow going over the orchard eveiw week until the first to 

 the fifteenth of August, keeping as near as possible a dust mulch, this 

 preventing evaporation of moisture as much as possible. 



If weather conditions are favorable, we usually -conclude our culti- 

 vation by sowing some cover and catch crops as clover, oats, sand vetch, 

 etc. 



OKCFIARD FERTILITY. 



The problem of providing and maintaining orchard fertility is one 

 which should be provided for, and occupy our first attention. In plow- 

 ing my orchard I like to turn under a good clover sod if possible. 

 The young peach trees seem to get a much better start if given this ad- 



