LOCAL ACTION OF CURL ON FOLIAGE AND FRUIT. 



123 



Just north of the experiment block, in the continuation of the same 

 orchard, was selected a row of ♦> trees for treatment on one side. The 

 spray used on half of each of the first three trees from the ea . was the 

 standard Bordeaux mixture reconunended by tiie Department, viz, 6 

 pounds copper sulphate, 4: pounds (piicklime, and 45 o-alloiis of water. 

 The spray used on the following- three trees was lime and sulphur, con- 

 sistino- of 10 pounds sulphur, 20 pounds lime, and 45 gallons of water. 

 In doing this spraying an effort was made to treat only one -half of 

 each tree. Each tree was first examined, and, in some instances at least, 

 a large canvas stretched through it in such a manner as to divide it as 

 nearly as possible into two equal parts. All the branches on ono side 

 were thoroughly sprayed, the canvas prc^venting any of the si)ray 

 reachincr the limbs of the other half. In this wav the half of each of 

 three trees was sprayed with each of the above-mcntionel sprays, 



A photograph showing the appearance of one of these trees shortly 

 after treatment is shown in PI. XVI. 



May 10 and 18, 1895, when curl had reached its highest development, 

 careful estimates of the loss of foliage were made for the sprayed and 

 unsprayed sides of the 6 trees used in the experiment. The following 

 table shows the results of these estimates: 



Table 32. — Foliage lost from sprayed and unsprayed halves of trees. 



a Foliage estimated May 18, 1895. 



b Foliage estimated May 10, 1895. 



Gn May 8 the trees were examined, and the notes made at that time 

 state that the sprayed and unsprayed sides presented a striking con- 

 trast. It is said that "the foliage on the sprayed half of the trees is 

 perfection itself in almost all cases. It is very dense and abundant, 

 both below on the limbs and above. The leaves are of a very dark, 

 rich green, and are long, soft, and beautiful. The growth js very 

 thrifty, in fact, unusually so. There are probably not more than 2 to 

 3 per cent of the leaves curled at all on the sprayed half, and these are 

 confined to points at the top of the branches not properly sprayed. 

 On the unsprayed half of these trees there is very little healthy growth. 

 Probably 95 per cent of the leaves are curled, and most of them badly 

 curled and distorted. Probably not less than 90 per cent of those 

 produced thus far this spring will drop. The color of the foliage is 

 yellow and sickly. Such leaves as are not curled are small and light 

 in color. The foliage upon both lower and upper limbs is badly affected. 



