404 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a failure north and south, while they succeeded very well along the 

 Atlantic coast. Mr. Marshall, of Wisconsin, reported very good 

 success in plum culture by clean cultivation and thorough spraying 

 at the opportune time. This prevented attacks of curculio. Hon. 

 G. B. Brackett said the Lombard was the best of all plums. C. G. 

 Patten reported the Surprise a failure in Iowa, with but one reason- 

 able crop in twelve years. Mr. Reel, of Illinois, reported the Ameri- 

 cana varieties making fine healthy growth and bearing plenty of 

 plums. Mr. Cobum, of Colorado, reported that western slopes gave 

 good crops of plums while eastern slopes gave only medium crops. 



"Cover crops" was the first topic Wednesday afternoon. It was 

 considered imperative that there should be some kind of cover crop 

 used for winter protection to the roots of all fruit trees. The cow 

 pea had proven a wonderfully good crop, as it added so much fer- 

 tility to the land when turned under in the spring. For those below 

 lattitude 43 degrees it succeeds very well, but here in' the north red 

 clover and other crops must be depended upon for cover crops. 



"Spraying the orchard," byE. .M. Pollard, Lincoln, Neb., was 

 very instructive. Spray first time before buds open, second time 

 just before blossoming, third time as soon as the blossoms fall. This 

 catches the first hatch of the codling moth. Spray later for second 

 hatch. Formula used : four oz. Paris green to thirty-three gals. Bor- 

 deaux mixture, which is prepared by using four pounds of lime, four 

 pounds of copper sulphate and fifty gals, of water. A good substitute 

 for Paris green is four oz. white arsenate to one pound sal soda boil- 

 ed fifteen minutes, using six pounds of livne to fifty gals, of water. 

 Disparene was recommended very highly as less liable to burn the 

 foliage, and a very excellent remedy for canker worm and codling 

 moth. 



Prof. Beach used four pounds copper sulphate to fifty gals, water 

 and thinks this is the best strength to prove effective. For blight of 

 potatoes use one lb. copper sulphate to ten gals, water ; one lb. to one 

 hundred and fifty gals, water for apples. On plums this will injure 

 foliage. Thinks one lb. to 3000 gals, water for plums and cherries 

 is safe. Recommends six oz. Paris green and six lbs. lime and three 

 lbs. copper sulphate to fifty gals, water. A very essential feature in 

 the use of a preventive for insect depredations and fungous diseases 

 is the time of application. It should be commenced early before the 

 leaves appear, and stronger material used ; second spraying should be 

 made when the blossoms just begin to show color; again as soon as 

 the blossoms fall ; then ten days later another very thorough spray- 

 ing from two sides of the tree. The time when spraying is done 



