17G STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



owing to a car shortage was not shipped. There were 64 crates of un- 

 sprayed fruit and 400 crates of sprayed fruit. This fruit was stacked 

 out on the ground where it remained in the sun and dm*ing occasional 

 showers of rain until July 18 (4 days) and then 6 crates of each lot 

 were examined for broAvn-rot. It was found that G2.7 per cent of the 

 unspraj'ed fruit had rotted, Avhile only 8 per cent of the spraj^ed fruit 

 was so affected, showing conclusively the better keeping quality of the 

 latter. 



EFFECT OF THE SELF-BOILED LIME-SULPHUR WASH ON SCALE INSECTS. 



Observations and experiments go to shoAV that, Avhen used as a sum- 

 mer spray, the effect of tlie self-boiled lime-sulphur wash on the control 

 of scale insects which may be present on the trees, especially the San 

 Jose scale, is important. While to secure the best results in the control 

 of scale insects it would be desirable to coat the limbs and twigs more 

 thoroughly than is accomplished in ordinary summer spraying, never- 

 theless in the course of the work as practiced against the curculio, brown- 

 rot, and scab noticeable good is accomplished. Although the spray is 

 not strong enough to kill many of the adult scale insects, it is effective to 

 an important extent in bringing about the death of the young scales. Ex- 

 periments made by the Bureau of Entomology in the use of the self- 

 boiled lime sulphur wash as a summer spray for the San Jose scale have 

 shown that two or three applications will result in a marked improve- 

 ment in the condition of the trees by fall. The effect of the wash is to 

 prevent the settling of the young scales upon the twigs and branches, so 

 that by the close of the season the trees are largely free from the in- 

 sects. 



Further observations are necessary to determine just how much bene- 

 fit will result from these applications in the control of scale insects, but 

 it seems probable in peach orchards regularly sprayed for the curculio 

 and for scab and brown-rot that the usual winter treatments for the San 

 Jose scale may be reduced to perhaps one application every two or three 

 years. Any observant orchardist should be able to determine for him- 

 self the necessity for winter treatments, depending upon the abundance 

 of the scale insects. The lime-sulphur wash is furthermore effective 

 against numerous other sucking insects, especially plant lice, which may 

 be present on the trees. 



PREPARATION AND USE OF THE SPRAY. 



Spraying for the brown-rot, scab, and curculio does not differ in prin- 

 ciple from the usual spraying practices. It is essential that an efficient 

 spraying outfit be employed, so that the work' may be done expeditiously 

 and with thoroughness. Where the orchard interest is at all important 

 it will be desirable to employ a power sprayer, such as a gasoline or coni- 

 pressed-air outfit. Excellent work, however, may be done with the ordi- 

 nary barrel sprayer, which is suitable for orchards of a few hundred trees. 

 In applying the spray, all parts of the tree should be reached. This is 

 especially important in the first application, which is directed principally 

 against the plum curculio. The purpose should be to coat thoroughly the 

 foliage, twigs, and young fruit to insure to the fullest extent possible the 

 poisoning of the beetles. The same precautions as to poisoning the foli- 



