SPRAYING IN MINNESOTA 
A. G. RUGGLES. 
During the last four or five years, rather extensive spraying 
operations have been carried on in the fruit and potato regions of 
the State. These were designed to find the best spraying compound 
for the purpose, as well as the cheapest and the most economical 
method of using it. Some of the results obtained are incorporated 
in the following spraying notes. 
As an insecticide for all leaf-eating insects, we have proved 
beyond a doubt that arsenate of lead is the best. One reason for 
this is that it sticks and hard rains do not wash it off imme- 
diately. Another reason is that. no matter how strong it is applied, 
it never burns the foliage. Many potato growers at the present time 
do not consider this the best potato beetle insecticide. The reason 
for such belief is that spraying operations are not begun until the 
grubs are present in large numbers. At this time a quicker-acting 
poison is thought necessary and Paris green does act quicker. If, 
however, the arsenate of lead is put on as the eggs are being laid 
and before many grubs hatch, a smaller number of sprayings are 
necessary and never does one get burning of the foliage. We there- 
fore recommend its use at the rate of 3—4 pounds in fifty gallons of 
Bordeaux mixture. 
In our orchard spraying work, we have given some attention 
to spraying before the leaf buds open in the spring and have found 
it of little value unless scale insects are present. The dormant 
spray used at this time is used chiefly against scale insects which 
are of very little consequence in many orchards; therefore we have 
not been advising its use except under special circumstances. 
Three sprayings have been recommended :—the first given just 
as the blossom buds begin te show color; the second just after the 
blossoms fall; and the third spraying ten days or two weeks later. 
If brown rot of plums or black rot of apples or scab or leaf-eating 
insects are very abundant, a fourth spraying should be given four 
or five weeks later. The material used in each of these sprayings 
is arsenate of lead and lime sulphur. We recommend the com- 
merical concentrated lime sulphur, diluted one gallon of the lime- 
