28 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 



development in floriculture and landscape gardening, the cultivation, 

 pruning, and spraying of orchard trees was wholly unknown. Indeed, 

 at that time, it was thought that there never would be need for the 

 spraying of even apple trees. True, apple scab fungus had been 

 studied, and some suggestions for its control had been made. But, 

 as late as 1896 not much attention was given it in the department 

 curriculum, in which were offered the following courses: orcharding 

 and grape culture; plant propagation and small fruits; vegetable 

 gardening ; forestry ; landscape gardening ; economic botany ; special 

 investigation and thesis work. Two graduate courses: studies in 

 combating fungus, insect and other enemies of plants, including spray 

 materials and methods; studies in plant breeding, hybridization, and 

 self- and cross-fertilization. But, according to the report of the 

 President to the Board of Trustees : "The Horticultural Department 

 had been busy in removing useless trees and hedges, renovating 

 orchards and sod, trimming borders, repairing walks and drives, and 

 in giving things a general air of tidiness. In the spring, plantings of 

 small fruits will add to the attractiveness of the gardens and be in a 

 sense something of an experiment. The possibilities of straightening 

 trees that had commenced to lean to one side is being tested." It is 

 interesting to note that by the next year (1897) the plantings of vari- 

 eties of small fruits had been extended, and more careful investigations 

 were made into the results of spraying. 



During the years 1895 and 1896, not more than three knapsack 

 sprayers were in use in the state. One of these was used by George W. 

 Endicott, for spraying his vines at Villa Ridge, one by the Depart- 

 ment of Horticulture at the University, and the other by Worthen 

 in his grape growing in the Navoo region. The first spraying with 

 a barrel-pump was done by the writer in the orchard of Valentine 

 J. Kiem, near Quincy, November 11, 12, and 13, 1896. The first 

 knowledge of the presence of San Jose scale in the state of Illinois 

 was had upon the examination by the State Entomologist of some twigs 

 sent in by Mr. Kiem. The spray material used in this first work 

 against the San Jose scale was whale-oil soap, in a hot solution 

 prepared by dissolving two pounds of soap in one gallon of water. 

 The following spring (1897) permission was granted the writer to 

 carry on experiments for the control of apple scab and codling moth 

 in the orchard of H. M. Dunlap, at Savoy. This work was con- 

 tinued for a series of years and the results published annually in the 

 transactions of the Illinois State Horticultural Society and in the 

 Experiment Station reports. 



