i6o The Canadian Horticulturist. 



RECENT APPLE FAILURES. 



ULLETIN 84, of Cornell, by Prof. L. H. Bailey, is calcu- 

 lated to be of much benefit to apple growers. He points 

 out that ^this has been largely induced by want of culti- 

 vation, want of drainage, want of manure, and, above all, 

 by the presence of the apple scab fungus. He proceeds to 

 say : — " The best proof that the apple scab fungus is the 

 immediate cause of the greater part of the apple failures of Western New York 

 is afforded by the fact that thorough spraying with Bordeaux mixture is usually 

 followed by a great increase in the productiveness of the orchard ; and it may be 

 said that the indifferent results which occasionally follow the spray are equal 

 proofs that there may be other causes than the fungus, for the failures. Much 

 of the failure with the Bordeaux mixture, however, is due to careless or hasty 

 application. If the Bordeaux mixture is properly made — using an excess of 

 Time — no injury may be expected to follow its use, and it should be applied 

 with great thoroughness. The operator should endeavor to completely cover 

 all the leaves and shoots. A mere sprinkling, such as most persons give, is of 

 little good. One thorough application which drenches the tree, is better than 

 several of this ordinary kind. Then people are always waiting for fair weather. 

 Now, it is in the rainy weather that the fungi spread most seriously, and it is 

 then that the spray is most needed. With plenty of lime, the mixture adheres 

 well. Spray between the showers, even when the trees are wet, if you can do 

 no better. To delay is to fail. It is better to spray in the rain than not to spray 

 at all. 



There is abundant proof that two to four applications of Bordeaux mixture 

 are capable of keeping the fungus almost completely in check. It is not known 

 what value there is in an application before the buds open, but it can do no 

 harm, and it is probable that it is very serviceable in most seasons. At the 

 latest, spraying should begin as soon as the blossoms fall. Make the Bordeaux 

 mixture with 6 lbs. of copper sulphate, 4 lbs. (or more, if the lime is air-slacked) 

 of lime, and about forty gallons of water. It is always advisable to use Paris 

 green for various insects, — i lb. to every 250 gallons of the mixture. Then take 

 up your position near the tree, with a strong pump, and apply the mixture until 

 the tree is soused." 



Speaking of the great importance of good tillage of the orchard, the Pro- 

 fessor says : 



" Good tillage should be the first intention of the apple grower. But this 

 can be satisfactorily given only in orchards which have been properly planted. 

 The roots should be deep enough to allow of easy plowing, not only because the 

 tillage may thereby be improved, but also because the roots are then in moister 

 earth and they suffer less from dry weather. Planters frequently make the mis- 



