FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. 155 



THE SATISFACTORY EXPERIENCE OF ORCHARDISTS. 



A large percentage of the Virginia apple orchards were sprayed with 

 the lime-sulphur solution during the past season. We personally exam- 

 ined some of these orchards and have had reports from many of them. 

 In ev'ery case, so far as we have been able to ascertain, the results were 

 satisfactory-, both as to the control of diseases and as to the effect of the 

 spray on fruit and foliage. In the early part of the season there were 

 a number of reports of injury to the young leaves, but in no case did 

 this prove to be serious. In the Yellow Newtown orchards where bitter- 

 rot is a serious factor the lime-sulphur solution was used in the early 

 treatment for scab and leaf-spot, and this was followed by applications of 

 Bordeaux for bitter-rot. This plan was entirely successful, the russeting 

 of the fruit having been avoided and the bitter-rot disease conti^olled. 



In one orchard, which had been spraj'ed with the lime-sulphur solu- 

 tion, a small percentage of the fruit had a sun-burned appearance. Brown 

 sunken spots from one-half inch to one inch in diameter occurred on the 

 upper or sunny side of the fruit. This is probably due to the action of 

 the sulphur in hot, dry weather. The same injury occurred in our experi- 

 mental plots at Siloam Springs, Arkansas, during 1909, but it does not 

 promise to be a serious objection to the lime-sulphur sprays. It results 

 mainly from the late sprayings, and applications made during July and 

 August miglit cause considerable damage, especially in hot, dry seasons. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



The evidence obtained from various experiments conducted by the 

 United States Department of AgTiculture, and several of the experiment 

 stations, as well as the work of the orchardists, seem to warrant the 

 following conclusions: 



Bordeaux mixture often russets the fruit and injures tlie foliage of 

 many varieties of apples and its use in the early part of the season 

 should, therefore, be avoided as much as possible. 



Lime-sulphui' solution, diluted so as to contain four pounds of sulphur 

 in each fifty gallons of spray, is a good substitute for Bordeaux mixture 

 in the treatment of apple scab and some other diseases, and will not 

 materially russet the fruit nor injure the foliage. The concentrated so- 

 lution may be purchased from the factory and diluted at the rate of 

 one and one-half gallons to fifty gallons of water, or it may be prepared 

 at home. 



This fungicide will control apple scab, fruit spot, leaf spot and cedar 

 rust fully as well as Bordeaux mixture, but has not yet proved to be as 

 satisfactory for bitter-rot. Where it is necessary to spray for this dis- 

 ease, the early lime-sulphur applications for scab may be followed at the 

 proper time with Bordeaux for bitter-rot, thus avoiding the russet and 

 yet controlling the rot. 



Arsenate of lead may be safely and successfully used in combination 

 with the dilute liine-sul])hur solution for the control of the codling moth 

 and other insects. 



