Page Six 



BETTER FRUIT 



February, 1922 



commercial materials combined all the 

 essential factors desirable in the casein 

 spreader and included to a most satisfactory 

 degree the factor of ease in preparation, as 

 it is possible to add the pondered spreader 

 directly to the spray solution. 



While interested primarily in the results 

 and reactions resulting from the use of 

 spreaders with poison spray solution, it 

 might be well before taking up this phase 

 of the discussion to mention some other 

 uses to which this product has been put in 

 orchard spraying operations. 



Fisher, of Wenatchee, Washington, finds 

 the casein spreader (modified formula) a 

 desirable and effective addition to the lime 

 sulphur spray for brown rot of prunes and 

 cherries and for mildew control in apples. 



Jones, of California, finds the casein 

 spreader a most satisfactory and desirable 

 substitute for glue in their lime-sulphur, oil 

 and glue and B. T. S., oil and glue formula 

 in their citrus spraying in Tulare county. 



DeOng, of the California Experiment 

 Station, favors strongly the addition of this 

 spreader to lime-sulfur for red spider con- 

 trol. 



It has been added and found to improve 

 the sulfur sprays for red spiders, where the 

 dry sulfur and casenate are mixed and then 

 made into a paste and finally diluted with 

 water. In whitewashes for trees it may be 

 substitute for glue in their lime-sulfur, oil 

 miscellaneous materials, giving an excellent 

 covering and adherence to the whitewash. 



Spreaders in Arsenate Sprays — And 

 now finally what is the status of spreaders 

 in our general orchard spray program for 

 codling moth control? There are a number 

 of points to consider: 



First — Does the addition of a casein 

 spreader increase the efficiency of the poison 

 spray in worm control? 



Earlier investigations under rather care- 

 fully conducted controls at the Oregon 

 Station indicated a fairly marked increase 

 in the percentage of control obtained where 

 spreaders were added to the poison spray 

 solution. During the past two seasons results 

 have been more variable, and certainly less 

 conclusively in favor of the spreaders. 



Reports from California are conflicting, 

 some feeling that decidedly better results 

 are obtained, others finding little evidence 

 of improved control. DeOng, reporting on 

 an arsenate foliage spray for red humped 

 caterpillars, reports superior control where 

 casein spreader was employed. 



In the Wenatchee section of Washington 

 there is a general impression that spreaders 

 improve the efficiency of the spray. In 

 the Yakima section less spreaders have been 

 used and there is a general sentiment to the 

 effect that spreaders do not improve the 

 killing efficiency. 



In the Twin Falls section of Idaho 

 spreaders were quite generally employed and 

 their use has received a most hearty indorse- 

 ment from the growers. It would seem 

 that they are enthusiastically united in the 



opinion that spreaders materially increased 

 the killing efficiency. Where spreaders have 

 been used in Oregon there is a general 

 feeling that the control has been improved. 

 However, recent investigational plats do not 

 bear this out in any striking detail. 



CUMMARIZED, we may say that while 

 ^-^ there is much evidence to indicate that 

 the addition of a spreader to the poison 

 spray solution increases its killing efficiency, 

 it is decidedly doubtful as to what 

 extent this is true. It is our opinion that 

 the value of a spreader in this regard will 

 be, to a considerable extent, in proportion 

 to the efficiency of the spray outfit; the 

 excellence of the spray technique and the 

 judgment in proper timing of the spray 

 operation. Where any or all of these are 

 faulty the value of the spreader increases. 

 There is certainly no vidence to substan- 

 tiate the report from the east that the ad- 

 dition of the casenate spreader decreases 

 the efficiency of the spray. 



Second — Does the spreader improve the 

 spread of the spray? 



All reports are agreed that, with the ad- 

 dition of a spreader, one obtains smoother, 

 less tonspicuous and a more even distribu- 

 tion of the spray. This accomplishes two 

 outstanding results of merit. The even 

 inconspicuous covering renders the fruit less 

 likely to unfavorable suspicion regarding 

 spray covering and makes wiping unnecessary 

 in many instances. By avoiding the heavy 

 blotchy covering of spray the red varieties 

 color up more evenly, improving the ap- 

 pearance and grade of the mature fruit 

 materially. 



This factor of a smooth inconspicuous 

 covering, thus avoiding the blotchy deposit 

 and resultant uneven coloring is really im- 

 portant and to many growers serves as a 

 good and sufficient reason for the enthusi- 



astic adoption of spreaders in their late 

 summer applications. 



Third — Does the addition of a spreader 

 increase the covering power of the spray 

 solution so more trees may be covered per 

 tank of spray? 



Some growers have checked on this point 

 fairly carefully and are convinced that there 

 is a material increase in the number of trees 

 one may cover with a tank of spray where 

 spreader is added. Many have not checked 

 on this and a note of warning on the point 

 is worthy of thoughtful consideration. It 

 would be a most unfortunate situation if 

 the grower, imbued with this idea of 

 quicker covering with less material, actually 

 failed to use sufficient time or solution on 

 the tree to obtain the thorough spray cover- 

 ing required. 



So, while it is conceivable that bv 

 increased wetting due to the spreader we 

 could get quicker covering, this should not 

 become a factor of first importance when 

 deciding for or against the spreader 



Fourth — Are spreaders advisable with all 

 arsenical applications? 



The consensus of opinion seems to be that 

 spreaders should be used with all the lead 

 arsenate applications from calyx or pink to 

 the last cover spray. Considered strictly 

 from a comparative point of view and 

 valued on the beneficial results one might 

 logically expect from its use, it would ap- 

 pear that the spreader in the solution could 

 be dispensed with in the earlier applications 

 if desired, but is of especial merit in the 

 late cover spray. 



Fifth — Should casein spreaders be used 

 with other materials and at other seasons in 

 spray applications? 



No careful experiments have been made 

 at the Oregon Station with spreaders except 

 with the poison sprays. 



{Continued on fage 26) 



Application of ipray being made in orchard of Stewart Broi., near Victoria, B C. with modern 



spray gun. 



