QUESTION DRAWER. 



i6i 



both, and one which is best applied just 

 before the buds open. 



We regret the oversight in the case of the 

 illustration. 



San Jose Scale. 



laSo. Sir, — I want 5-ou to s?nd me formulas 

 and directions for spraying peach trees for the 

 Curl and for the Perniciosus Aspidiotus. 



Jonathan McCully, M. D. 



Cedar Springs Oat. 



1. Peach Leaf Curl has been, and is being 

 treated, successfully by the use of Bordeaux 

 Mixture. The spraying should be done early 

 in the spring before the buds begin to swell, 

 or from one to three weeks before blossom- 

 ing. The success of the operation depends 

 largely upon the time of application and the 

 thoroughness with which the spraying is 

 done. The twigs should be completely 

 covered with a very fine mist, and this can 

 be done only with a very fine nozzle. The 

 tree must not be drenched. As soon as the 

 mist droplets begin to run together, then is 

 the time to stop spraying, and the trees have 

 had enough. 



2. Experience has shown that the San 

 Jose Scale can be kept in check by careful 

 applications of whale-oil soap, and Crude 

 Petroleum. The soap can be used most 

 effectively while the buds are swelling. The 

 buds of tender trees are likely to be damaged 

 if the application is made earlier. (For 

 advice regarding the best brand, consult Mr. 

 G. E. Fisher, San Jose Scale Inspector, 

 Freeman Ont.) The soap should be used at 

 the rate of two and one half pounds to a 

 gallon of water, and one and one half gallons 

 of the mixture are necessary for a full grown 

 peach tree. It is preferable to prepare the 

 mixture by adding the soap when the water 

 is being heated over the fire, as the soap will 

 come into solution much better. In the case 

 of the crude petroleum, it is far safer to use 

 the 20 to 25 per cent, diluted crude petrol- 



eum. (Consult Mr. Fisher as to the best 

 petroleum to use.) Our Ontario petroleum 

 Mr. Fisher has found excellent. Peach trees, 

 however, which have been weakened from 

 any cause, are liable to injury from its appli- 

 cation. Mr. Fisher thinks that 15% dilution 

 is quite strong enough on peach trees. Of 

 necessity, this dilution must be applied with 

 a combination emulsion pump. The whale- 

 oil soap is not likely to do as much injury as 

 crude petroleum when applied by careless or 

 unskilled sprayers. 



O. A. C. Guelph. Prof. Lochhead. 



Best Fertilizer. 



1281. Sir, — Will you please answer throuQ^h 

 the Canadian Horticulturist which is the best kind 

 of fertilizers for loamy soil and how many years 

 they will stay in the ground— some kinds will stay 

 three years — and oblige 



A Subscriber. 



It is impossible to say which is the best 

 fertilizer for a loamy or any other kind or 

 soil. Artificial fertilizers can be intelligently 

 and economically applied only when the 

 nature of the soil and the peculiar feeding 

 power of the crop that is to be grown upon 

 it are known. For instance, if a soil is rich 

 in available potash, and the crop to be 

 grown is not in need of much of that plant 

 food, it is evident that potash would be 

 applied at a loss. It would, I think, be 

 best to find out by experiments with small 

 plots which fertilizer gives the best results 

 on your land before going extensively into 

 the use of them. 



The cheapest nitrogen for farmers or 

 orchardists is obtained from the growth of 

 leguminous crops, such as clover, peas, 

 hairy vetch, etc., and, under most circum- 

 stances, wood ashes furnish the cheapest 

 potash and phosphoric acid. 



Chemical Dept. , Yours truly, 



O. A. C, Guelph. R. Harcoirt. 



