Page Twenty-six 



What of Spreaders? 



{Continued jrom fage 6) 

 Smith, of Idaho, considers the addition 

 of the spreader decidedly improves the 

 efficiency of dormant lime sulfur in scale 

 control; and lime sulfur in the delayed 

 dormant for red spider control. 



DeOng, of California, considers spreader 

 addition advantageous in red spider and 

 aphis con trail sprays. 



Wenatchee authorities find improvement 

 in most of their spray applications from the 

 addition of casein spreaders. It was ob- 

 served that in the lime sulfur, arsenate com- 

 bination sprays, casein spreader reduced and 

 retarded the development of sludge. 



Where improved wetting, covering and 

 adherence of sprays is desired the addition 

 of casein spreader improves. 



Sixth — What are the adverse reports on 

 casein spreaders? 



With a new substance introduced exten- 

 sively for the first time and tested under 

 2 great variety of circumstances some adverse 

 reports and serious criticisms are to be 

 expected. Vague rumors and occasional 

 reports coming in during the season led me 

 to expect rather definite and general un- 

 favorable reports upon some points. May 

 I say that, everything considered, I am 

 most agreeably surprised at the general and 

 united favorable attitude on spreaders. 



The human element must needs enter 

 into any tests of this nature to a certain 

 extent. Certain individuals have a bump 

 of perverseness which prevents them follow- 

 ing explicitly the instructions printed on the 

 container. • 



Finally, the one rather universal serious 

 criticism or complaint of the commercial 

 casein spreaders is their cost. The cost is 

 too high is the tenor of the report. In this 

 article, I attempt neither to condone nor 

 defend; I do hope it will be possible, as 

 the business develops, for the commercial 

 companies to decrease the cost of their 

 product. 



DF. FISHER, federal pathologist of 

 • Wenatchee, has developed two modi- 

 fied'casein formula: and they were used 

 rather extensively in the Wenatchee fruit 

 section by growers last season. Two dif- 

 ferent methods have been used. One is 

 this: Water, 1 gallon; caustic soda, 3 

 ounces; casein, 1 pound. 



The caustic soda is dissolved in the water 

 while bringing to a boil, then the casein is 

 slowly sifted in with careful stirring to 

 avoid lumping. A little boiling will dis- 

 solve the casein and this solution then forms 

 the stock solution and may be used as a 

 spreader at the rate of one pint to the 100 

 gallons, or the above amount is sufficient for 

 800 gallons of spray. 



The second method is similar except that 

 one employs baking soda instead of caustic 

 soda, and the material does not need to be 

 cooked. Probably a rather finely ground 

 casein would be advantageous, and two 



BETTER FRUIT 



gallons of water would avoid working with 

 so thick a paste as otherwise. This stock must 

 be used within reasonable time after its 

 preparation because of the deterioration 

 with a development of most unpleasant 

 odors. 



Summarizing our information on the 

 casein spreaders, then, we may say that: 



First — While there is considerable room 

 for question as to the value of spreaders in 

 increasing the toxic efficiency of the poison 

 spray application where high powered out- 

 fits are employed in the hands of experi- 

 enced operators and applications carefully 

 timed; for the vast majority of growers the 

 addition of spreaders is of advantage. 



Second — By increasing the evenness of 

 the spray deposit it is possible to obtain a 

 more even coloring of the fruit, a point of 

 more than passing importance. If it will 

 avoid the necessity for wiping, as was the 

 case with many growers last season, this 

 likewise will prove a decided factor in favor 

 of their more general adoption. 



Third — The addition of spreaders to 

 other applications than the poison sprays 

 seems equally desirable and effective in 

 increasing their values under the same 

 conditions. 



Fourth — The cost of the commercial 

 casenate spreaders tends to operate against 

 their more universal acceptance by growers. 

 This point is one the commercial con- 

 cerns must appreciate and any possible re- 

 duction in price commensurate with good 



February y 1 922 



business should receive the most serious 

 consideration. 



It is our opinion that spreaders have come 

 to stay. Undoubtedly improvements and 

 modifications will take place as our know- 

 ledge and experience of spreaders increase. 



Havg FGiMver 



build youi'Jhome 



KNOW in advance exactly how your 

 home is going to look — what quality 

 of materials will be used — when it will be 

 completed — what it will cost. 



For eleven years Fenner has designed and 

 built Fenner Factory Cut Homes in all 

 parts of the country. Cutting at the factory 

 eliminates waste in materials and lessens 

 labor costs. When you build a Fenner 

 home you get better materials, better con- 

 struction and save money. More than 100 

 designs to choose from. 

 Send 25c for the beautiful 

 Fenner Plan Book showing 

 colored illustrations and floor 

 plans. 



Postoffice Box K-4318 



FENNER MFG. CO. 



Foot of McKcon* Avenue. Poribnd, Ortgon 



NITR4TE 



SODA 



AT LEAST 10,000 BOXES 

 D UE TO NITRA TE OF SODA 



In a letter written January 11th last, Mr. Arthur L. Helllwell, general 

 manager of the well-known Wenatchee-Beebe Orchard Company, states that 

 their orchard experts are unanimous in giving credit to nitrate of soda for 

 *'d/ least 10,000 boxes" of a 15,000 excess apple crop last fall. 



Mr. HelliwelTs company used 20 tons of 

 our Nitrate of Soda in the Fall of 1920 

 and another 20 tons in the Spring of 1921. 

 This aggregate of 40 tons was scattered 

 over those portions of their 400-acre or- 

 chard, which seemed most in need. From 

 150 to 300 pounds per acre was used. 



"I have taken the time," says Mr. Helli- 

 well. "to make a very careful study of the 

 needs of Wenatchee orchard soils, and I 

 am well convinced that it is nitrogen and 

 humus rather than potash or phosphorus 

 that our soils need." 



Wri/e Us TOD A Y For Prices and Particidars. RejuveTtate Your Orchard 

 With Nitrate of Soda 



THE NITRATE AGENCIES CO. 



HOGE BUILDING, SEATTLE 



