10 May, 1919.] Apple Culture in Victoria. 287 



APPLE CULTURE IN VICTORIA. 



(Continued from page 157.) 

 Bij J. Farrell, Orchard Supervisor. 



Copper-soda Sprat. 



It is now generally recognised that in making Bordeaux mixture 

 tlie use of good fresh lime is essential. In remote districts, and during 

 certain periods when good lime is unobtainable, growers resort to the 

 copper-soda spray, in which washing soda is substituted for the lime. 

 In fact, on account of the ease with which this spray can be prepared, 

 and because of the good results which attend its application, some 

 orchardists use it in preference to the Bordeaux. The 'copper-aoda for- 

 mula generally adopted is the 6-9-50, that is, 6 lbs. of bluestone, 9 lbs. 

 of washing soda, and 50 gallons of water. The method of dissolving 

 the ingredients and the process of mixing them are similar to those 

 involved in the manufacture of the Bordeaux. In applying this, as well 

 as other sprays for the same purpose, the objective of the operator 

 should be to drench the trees thoroughly. Owing to the more watery 

 nature of the copper-soda, however, the slight deposit remaining on the 

 trees after the moisture has dried off is hardly percep,tible. The best 

 results are obtained from the use of fungicides when the spraying .season 

 is comparatively dry, and this remark applies to copper-soda more 

 than to any other such spray. When copper-soda is applied on a dry 

 day followed by rain, the deposit being lighter and probably mjore easily 

 soluble in rain water than those of other mixtures on the .second 

 occasion, the fungus destroying agent is washed away, thus rendering 

 a second application more necessary. 



A few' years ago, several growers used " neat bluestone," that is, 

 bluestone at the rate of 1 lb. to 25 or 30 gallons of water without any 

 other ingredient. Good results were claimed for this spray the first 

 year, but its use during the second spraying season proved unsatis- 

 factory, as, while much foliage was injured, the spray did not control 

 the spot. 



LiMK-SULPHUR. 



Growers who now employ the lime-sulphur spray almost invariably 

 use the commercial product. Opinions of growers are divided as to 

 vvhic'h is the more effective spray, this or the Bordeaux mixture. Many 

 experienced orchardists, having experimented with both, have declared 

 in favour of the Bordeaux, but lime-sulphur still has numerous advo- 

 cates. The general principles governing the method of application 

 and times for spraying with lime-sulphur are similar to those relating 

 to the use of Bordeaux mixture. When one spray only is given for the 

 "early infection," its strength should range from 1 in 15 to 1 in 20, 

 applied when the blossoms show pink. When the earlier spray, as 

 explained in connexion with the use of Bordeaux, is also given, its 

 strength is usually from 1 in 12 to 1 in 15. In dealing with varieties 

 which experience 'has proved to ibe of a sensitive character, or when 

 spraying to cope with " midseason attack " or for " late spotting," the 

 strength of the mixture may be regulated to suit the existing require- 

 ments. ' 



