4i6 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



can be followed with a reasonable assurance 

 of success by those who cannot get the mix- 

 ture from the steam boiling plants. 



In the preparation of the mixtures, using 

 either sal soda or caustic soda and not boil- 

 ing, it is very essential that a quick slaking 

 lime be used. If the lime slakes slowly 

 there is not enough heat generated to cause 

 the required chemical changes to take place 

 and the substance is practically useless. The 

 indications from this year's experiments 

 are, that, if good, quick slaking lime is 

 slaked with warm water and the sulphur 

 and sal soda added so as to get the full 

 benefit of the heat developed, a good use- 

 ful spraying material is obtained. The 

 ease with which the lime-sulphur and sal 

 soda or lime-sulphur and caustic soda mix- 

 tures may be prepared will greatly recom- 

 mend them to the small fruit grower, who 



has not sufficient trees to warrant the in- 

 stalling of a steam boiling plant. 



A half barrel lot of caustic soda solution 

 ( I pound in 5 gallons of water) was applied 

 on peach trees quite badly infested with the 

 scale without any appreciable good results 

 being secured. 



A solution of sulphide of potassium (i 

 pound in 2 gallons of water) was also ap- 

 plied in two different peach orchards. 

 While the results noticed were not so satis- 

 factory as when the lime and sulphur pre- 

 paration was used, the scale was sufficiently 

 checked to warrant the continuation of ex- 

 ,poriments. Moreover, if potassium sul- 

 phide will destroy the scale, it is reasonable 

 to expect that the allied substance sodium 

 sulphide, which has the advantage of being 

 much cheaper, will also do so. Here also 

 there is room for further experimentation. 



Fruit Growers Who Have United 



W. D. A. ROSS, SECRETARY. 



^ I "* HE Chatham Fruit Growers' Associa- 



1 



tion has a membership of about 60, 

 although the bulk of the fruit is grown by 

 about 20 of the members. The largest or- 

 chard contains about 1,000 trees just com- 

 ing into bearing. This year the directors 

 decided to purchase a power spraying ma- 

 chine and sprayed a number of orchards. 



Members are charged four cents per tree 

 for each spraying of average trees, or 16 

 cenls for the four sprayings. As the fruit 

 is handled by tne association the members 

 have the privilege of paying either when 

 the work is done or out of the proceeds of 

 fruit sales in the fall as they prefer. We 

 have two men to handle the two loads of 

 hose, one carrying six nozzles, the other 

 eight, and a driver in addition to the two 

 hands for spraying. We made a 

 special effort to induce the members to 

 prune their trees thoroughly so as to make 



the experim.ent as complete a success as 

 possible. 



Our association has been in existence for 

 about four years. Previous to that time, 

 however, the members had joined in ship-~ 

 ping several carlots during two seasons. In 

 1900, our heavy fruit year, we shipped 21 

 car loads. In 1901 the crop was very light 

 and no shipping was done. In 1902 we 

 shipped 42 cars, and last season, another oti* 

 crop, seven car loads. 



Best Paying Apples. — Mr. A. W. Peart, 

 of Burlington, believes the leading varieties 

 of summer apples in his district are Duch- 

 ess and Astrachan. The color of the Yel- 

 I0.7 Transparent prohibits it for export 

 trade. Of fall apples, Ribston Pippin and 

 Blenheim rank highest, while in late fall/ 

 and winter varieties King, Baldwin, Green- 

 ing and Northern Spy head the list. These 

 varieties, he believes, pay the best in his dis- 

 trict. 



