472 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Kalamazoo, New Prolific and Brunson are equally desirable, being hardy in bud 

 and valuable market sorts. Longhurst is of the Chili type and has been one 

 of the surest bearers and one of the most satisfactory varieties on trial. Gold 

 Drop is one of the most hardy in bud, but the glut that comes every year has 

 made it unpopular with many growers. The fault, however, is not all with the 

 peach, but in the slack cultural methods used. Heavy pruning and thinning 

 of this and other varieties of the Chili type, would bring very different results 

 from those now secured. 



McCoUister has also given excellent results. Ripens about with Gold Drop, 

 is not so hardy in bud, but is of larger size and has a red cheek. 



Smock and Salway have no equals in their season. Salway has given the 

 better results of the two. 



It is probable that the fruits of the new varieties will develop higher color 

 as the trees get older and bear heavier. A large per cent of the new varieties 

 are white-fleshed, which makes them of doubtful value owing to the opinion 

 held by buyers concerning white peaches. Many white-fleshed varieties have 

 given excellent results as to hardiness of bud, productiveness, quality and ap- 

 pearance, but have not been profitable. 



PLUMS. 



The yield was very good this season, considering the heavy crop last year. 

 The trees did not set as full and there was much less thinning to do this season 

 but. when the fruit matured, the trees showed a good crop. 



The dust spray was again given a thorough test, using the two mixtures tried 

 last year and two others. 



Mixture No. 1: — One barrel of fresh lime, two and one-half pounds of com- 

 mon or crude potash, twenty-four pounds of sulphur, and four pounds of Paris 

 green were mixed as follows: Two boxes two and one-half feet wide, five feet 

 long, with 6-inch sides were made, and one-half barrel of fresh lime was put 

 into each box, and the lumps were broken in pieces the size of a hen's egg. The 

 lime in one box was dry-slaked by slowly sprinkling over it five gallons of water 

 in which two and one-half pounds of crude potash had been dissolved. The 

 lime in the other box was dry-slaked by sprinkling over it five gallons of water 

 in which ten pounds of copper sulphate had been dissolved. After being allowed 

 to cool the two lots were shoveled into one box and the sulphur and Paris green 

 were added and the whole mass thoroughly mixed, after which it was sifted 

 and was then ready for use. 



For sifting, a box 15 inches square, with 5-inch sides and a double thick- 

 ness of wire window netting nailed over the bottom, was used. Handles four 

 feet long, were fastened to the sides of the box to avoid being right over the 

 mixture, as it is very light and fluffy, and inhaling the dust of Paris green 

 and other ingredients cannot fail to be injurious. 



Mixture No. 2: — One barrel of lime was dry-slaked by slowly sprinkling 

 over it 10 gallons of water in which 20 pounds of copper sulphate had been 

 dissolved, first putting the lime in _ the boxes and breaking it into small 

 pieces. The Paris green was added "after the mixture was cool and it was 

 then sifted. 



Mixture No. 3: — Made by dissolving 6 pounds of copper sulphate in 4 gallons 

 of boiling water, and slaking G pounds of stone lime with 4 gallons of hot 

 water. After the lime had cooled, it was then mixed with the copper sulphate 

 solution. The mass was then poured into a grain sack and the surplus water 

 pressed out; 100 pounds of air-slaked lime were then thoroughly mixed with 

 it, after which it was spread out and dried and two pounds of Paris green 

 were added. The drying process was a difficult one and took considerable 

 time. This mixture requires much more labor to prepare than any of the other 

 kinds, as, in drying, it hardens into very small lumps that must be crushed 

 to a powder. 



Mixture No. 4: — Used for curculio, only. It consisted of one pound of Paris 

 green to 50 pounds of air-slaked lime. Three applications were given; the 

 first one just before the blossoms opened, the second when the fruit was set, 

 and the third one, a week later. 



No difference could be seen between the different preparations of dust sprays, 

 nor l)etween the dust sprays and liquid sprays, with seven applications of 

 dust and only five of liquid, except in one case where three applications of 



