FIGHTING THE ROT. 



The Spraying Experiments 



p. W. HODGETTS, B. S. A., DEPARTMENT OF 

 AGRICULTURE, TORONTO^ ONT. 



THE second series of sprayings in con- 

 nection with the experiments for the 

 prevention of grape rots has just ended at 

 Mr. Shearer's farm near Niagara, as out- 

 lined in the last issue of The Horticulturist, 

 are being carried on by the Department of 

 Agriculture at the request of the fruit grow- 

 ers of the Niagara district, whose vineyards 

 have suffered severely the past two seasons 

 through the attacks of the black and brown 

 rots. 



A Forest Spraying Outfit 



The spraying outfit of Mr. William Frazer, of Forest, Ont., one of 

 the most successful fruit growers in this district, is shown here. 

 Mr. Frazer may be seen in his spraying unifoim on the elevated 

 platform. The Forest growers find the elevated platform a great 

 help in doing efficient spraying. 



During April a number of vineyards were 

 visited and a few rows of grapes in each 

 were sprayed with the copper sulphate solu- 

 tion. Starting June 13th, just before the 

 blossoms opened, we again made the round 

 from Winona to Niagara and Stamford, a 

 distance of over 50 miles, with the cart 

 spramotor. Over 4,000 vines at eight dif- 

 ferent points were sprayed. The standard 

 Bordeaux mixture was used throughout for 

 the grapes. 



Soda Bordeaux was applied at Mr. 

 Robertson's farm in St. Catharines to a 

 number of cherry and plum trees to control 

 the rot which is developing seriously owing 



to the prevalent moist, sultry weather. This 

 mixture is made up of 40 gallons water, 4 

 pounds copper sulphate, with enough caus- 

 tic soda or lye (ranging from 18 to 24 

 ounces according to its strength) to make 

 the whole sHghtly neutral. The soda re- 

 places the lime, and these will not discolor 

 the fruit. It is claimed that this mixture 

 will not hold to the trees and foHage like the 

 lime Bordeaux, but on the other hand it is 

 more easily prepared, will not clog the noz- 

 zles, and may be used almost till the fruit is 

 ripe. 



Care must be exercised, however, in test- 

 ing its strength when prepared. The use 

 of litmus paper in this connection will be 

 readily explained by any druggist and the 

 test is simple. The blue paper should re- 

 tain its color when dipped in the prepared 

 solution, while the red paper should, under 

 the same conditions, turn blue. Owing to 

 some trouble experienced by the Winona 

 growers fruit men will do well to apply this 

 test to any of the soda preparations. 



Hairy Vetch for Green Manure 



PROF. H. L. HUTT, O. A. C, GUELPH, ONT. 



Kindly advise me if hairy vetch would be 

 good to plow under and then plant strawberries 

 the folloviing spring. What does the see-l 

 usually sell at and ,when is the best time to sow 

 it?— (J. B., St. George, Ont. 



A crop of hairy vetch grown this year and 

 turned under next fall should leave the 

 ground in good condition for strawberries 

 the following year, although if the ground 

 is in fairly good condition it might be possi- 

 ble to raise some early crop on the ground 

 this year, such as early potatoes or early 

 peas, and follow with the vetch as a late 

 catch crop. Vetch grows well late in the 

 season and makes a good mat of vegetable 

 matter to plow under when sown as late as 

 the middle of August. The seed this year 

 is quoted at $4.50 to $5 per bushel. 



