l^yEgTDOKl P^AUi^' 



Spraying. 



1219. Sir, — Please give me some information 

 about spraying. When is the best time? In what 

 proportions would you mix the ingredients for the 

 different times ? How many times should apples 

 and plums be sprayed ? 



I have set out a plum orchard of five hundred 

 trees, which are now in their second year, and 

 they are growing finely. Would you advise spray- 

 ing them before they begin bearing ? Could you 

 give me the name of a good fruit journal ? 



Senda, Ont. W. T. Nutt. 



The questions of our correspondent, who 

 evidently does not receive this journal, re- 

 veal a common lack of information through- 

 out Ontario, with reg"ard to the purpose and 

 manner of spraying-. Much has been done 

 by the Ontario government to make known 

 the benefits, and yet much remains to be 

 done. Indeed it has become a large subject, 

 and to write a detailed reply would take 

 much space. 



Before one thinks of spraying, he should 

 have a definite purpose. To spray those 

 young plum trees, growing vigorously, 

 would probably be a waste of time and 

 money. When they begin bearing, should 

 they be subject to rot, spraying with Bor- 

 deaux mixture as soon as blossoms fall, and 

 every two weeks thereafter according to 

 judgment, might prevent. 



If curculio is making havoc in the plum 

 orchard, a spraying with Paris green, three 

 ounces to forty gallons of water, immedi- 

 ately after blossoms fall, is sometimes very 

 helpful. 



If the tent caterpillar or canker worm is 

 eating the leaves of any of your trees, poison 

 them by spraying with Paris green. 



If apple scab aflfects your apples badly, 

 year after year, better spray faithfully with 

 Bordeaux every two weeks, from before 

 bloom until the dry weather becomes con- 

 stant. 



If your cherries rot badly, keep them 

 covered with Bordeaux, and the spores 



that light upon the fruit cannot find a place 

 to enter the skin. 



If your grapes are inclined to mildew, be- 

 gin spraying before the leaves come out 

 with Bordeaux, and keep the vines and the 

 fruit green with it until settled dry weather, 

 in July or August. 



Bordeaux mixture is made by dissolving 

 four pounds of lime in one barrel of water, 

 and four pounds of sulphate of copper in 

 another, and then pouring the latter with 

 the former, stirring vigorously. When 

 mixed together the whole should make 

 about forty gallons of Bordeaux mixture. 



Spraying is a wide word, so many mix- 

 tures are used. For aphis we spray with 

 kerosene emulsion ; for San Jose scale with 

 crude petroleum or whale oil soap, and so 

 on. Soon a tree doctor will be needed to 

 diagnose the disease and tell us what 

 remedy to apply. 



Apples Compared. 



1220. Sir, — I would like you to tell me in your 

 open letter columns what is your opinion as to the 

 relative merits of the Northern Spy, Cranberry 

 Pippin and Blenheim Orange. Are the two last 

 named superior to the Spy in quality and bearing. 

 The Spy is- an apple that is being extensively 

 planted in this vicinity. It bears early and is very 

 productive — that so far has been the experience of 

 those who have tried it. Is there any raspberry 

 now grown in the east that can compare favorably 

 with the Cuthbert as to productiveness and shipping 

 qnalities. By answering the above questions you 

 will greatly oblige me. 



Salmon Arm, B. C. J. D. McGuire. 



There is no apple of its season, grown in 

 Ontario, that excels the Northern Spy. In 

 size, beauty and quality it is the best apple 

 we grow. With us, however, it is a long 

 time in coming into bearing, which is its 

 chief fault. It needs high cultivation, close 

 pruning and plenty of fertilizer. 



The Cranberry Pippin is a very showy 

 apple and first-class for export, but some- 

 what uncertain in bearing, and of poor 



