234 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and a variety of mixtures for the control of the San Jose scale in addition to 

 the ordinary insecticides and fungicides. In brief, none of the dust sprays 

 give as good results as the liquid sprays except perhaps against the plum curculio. 

 They had little effect in controlling the curl-leaf of the peach or the scab of the 

 apple and in the case of varieties that are subject to the attack of these diseases, 

 the injury where the dust mixtures were used were so great as to practically 

 cause the loss of the crop. 



Soda-bordeaux, although not nearly as valuable as the ordinary lime mixture, 

 answers a good purpose in controlling fungous diseases late in the season when 

 the lime mixture would be likely to discolor the fruit. 



Of the remedies for the San Jose scale, nothing was more effective than the 

 ordinary sulphur, lime and salt mixture, using 25 pounds of lime, 15 pounds of 

 sulphur and 8 pounds of salt for 50 gallons of water Practically as good results, 

 however, were secured when no salt was used, and in preparing small quantities, 

 when the heat from the slaking lime was utilized for boiling the mixture. As 

 the scale has not obtained a lodgment in the station orchards, the various mix- 

 tures were tested in three orchards in other parts of the county on peach and 

 apple trees. Excellent results were obtained in the case of the peach trees in 

 all places, as, at the end of the season, the infested trees were practically free 

 of the scale indicating that when the work is thoroughly done this destructive 

 insect can be controlled upon peach trees by spraying them once in two years. 

 As the sulphur and lime mixture is also a remedy for leaf-curl and to some 

 extent for the rot, annual applications can generally be made with profit in 

 orchards where the scale has appeared. 



A test was also made of the use of caustic soda as a remedy for the scale. 

 When used at the rate of six pounds in 50 gallons of water it proved of little 

 value, as a sufficient number of the scale survived to encrust the trees at the end 

 of the season even worse than they were at the beginning. One serious objection 

 to the use of this solution is its caustic effect upon the face and hands of the 

 operators, and especially if it reaches the eyes. It has, however, Ijeen used at 

 even greater strength than the above, the amount in several cases ranging from 

 12 to 25 pounds of caustic soda in 50 gallons of water. These strong solutions 

 not only destroyed the scale, but freed the trees of their rough bark and gave 

 them a fresh, glossy appearance. 



The results obtained when spraying apple trees for San Jose scale were loss 

 satisfactory than with the peach, and most other fruits, as the trees are generally 

 not only larger and with thicker heads than other fruit trees, thus making them 

 more difficult to spray, but the loose and rough bark upon the trunks and larger 

 branches make it almost impossible to reach all of the scale, and the same is 

 true regarding the fuzzy covering upon young twigs of many varieties. For these 

 reasons the results ordinarily secured when spraying apple trees have not been 

 as good as with the peach, especially from the first one or two applications. 



The results from various experiments with cover crops, both at the South 

 Haven Station and cooperative, are given in both of the bulletins. Of the 

 leguminous crops which are of especial value for supplying nitrogen, winter 

 vetch, mammoth clover and crimson clover have been valuable in the order 

 named. Cow peas and soy beans are of no value unless they can be sown as 

 early as the first of July imder favorable conditions. Considered only as cover 

 crops, barley has been most satisfactory, having larger leaves and stouter stalks 

 than oats. Field peas have been used with l)oth of these crops with good success. 



As fifteen years have elapsed since the location of the sub-station at South 

 Haven, the following brief notes regarding the station and its work may be of 

 interest. Previous to that time experimental work in horticulture had been 

 carried on at the Agricultural College, but as the location and climate is less 

 favorable for fruii growing than in many sections along the shore of Lake Mich- 

 igan, and in other important fruit regions in Michigan, it was felt that this 

 interest merited more attention than could be given the College orchards and the 

 State Board of Agriculture authorized the location of a sub-station in the "Peach 

 Belt," at some point where the work of the station could be observed by fruit 

 growers and where they could also obtain results that would be more reliable 

 than those secured in the College orchards. 



For a number of years the Hon. T. T. Lyon, at that time President of the 

 State Horticultural Society, had under trial upon his premises at South Haven, 

 a large collection of tree and Ijush fruits that were just coming into bearing. 



