GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



cappings there. All we need is a large sup- 

 ply of tubs to handle the cappings as fast 

 as filled. 



Nordhoff, Cal. 



SPRAYING FRUIT-TREES IN BLOOM 



Advice in " Better Fruit " in Regard to it 



BY J. A. GREEN 



One of the most subtle attacks on bee- 

 keeping interests that has ever come to my 

 notice is contained in articles in Better 

 Fruit, a magazine published at Hood River, 

 Oregon. Better Fruit is a high-class maga- 

 zine, well printed, superbly illustrated, and 

 occupies a very high place among publica- 

 tions devoted to the fruit industry. In the 

 January number are several articles by W. 

 H. Volck, Horticultural Commissioner of 

 Santa Cruz County, California, who is list- 

 ed as one of the associate editors. In one 

 of these, after reciting the damage done in 

 his district by various leaf and fruit eating 

 insects which begin their work very early, 

 he says, " These foliage and flower-devour- 

 ing insects are all controllable with arseni- 

 cals provided the spraying is properly done 

 in due time. Owing to the veiy early at- 

 tacks of tussock caterpillars, canker-worms, 

 and leaf-folders, the first spraying should 

 not be delayed until the blossoms have all 

 fallen, but applied while the trees are in 

 bloom. The period from full bloom to the 

 time when two-thirds of the blossoms have 

 fallen appears to be the most practical tim- 

 ing. Spraying- with good ai-senicals will 

 cause no injury to the blossoms." Later, 

 in the same article he says, " Apply the first 

 spraying when the trees are in bloom, full 

 bloom to the time when two-thirds of the 

 blossoms have fallen." 



In another article, speaking of a special 

 brand of areenate of lead, he says, '' It may 

 also be used on apples and pears in the 

 Coast districts if applied vei-y early (while 

 the trees are in bloom), or if combined." 

 Again, " Acid arsenate of lead may be used 

 ... if applied before the trees have gone 

 out of bloom; but any later sprayings will 

 be dangerous." Once more, " The first ap- 

 plication for canker-worms, codling moth, 

 etc., had best be applied before all the blos- 

 soms have fallen;" and, finally, "In the 

 Coast districts the earliest application (be- 

 fore all the blossoms have fallen) may be 

 made." 



The persistent reiteration of the same 

 idea shows a deliberate purpose to induce 

 as many as possible to follow his teaching, 

 though he cleverly avoids giving any reason 

 for it, further than that the leaf and bud 



eating worms that he mentions begin their 

 attacks very early, before the blossoms are 

 open. The position of the man, and his 

 evident familiarity with all the minutiae of 

 spraying, will tend to lead many to follow 

 liis advice without analyzing it or suspect- 

 ing any ulterior motive. 



Now the facts are that, for the purpose 

 of poisoning the tussock caterpillar, can- 

 ker-worm, or any other of the leaf or bud 

 eating insects that begin their work early 

 in the season, there could be no possible 

 advantage in having the tree in bloom when 

 the spraying is done. A spray applied 

 four or five days eax'lier, before the blossoms 

 open, would be even more effective in con- 

 trolling them, if time is any object. But 

 unless these pests were unusually bad, there 

 could be no gi-eat harm in waiting four or 

 five days later, until the petals of the blos- 

 soms have di'opped, which is the proper 

 time to si^ray for the codling moth. For 

 the control of the codling moth, a more 

 effective job of spraying can be done after 

 the petals have dropped and the stamen- 

 bars have withered and separated, so that 

 the calyx cup can be more easily filled with 

 poison. Also this spray will be equally 

 effective in controlling the later attacks of 

 all leaf, bud, or fruit eating insects. 



The statement that spraying will cause 

 no injury to the blossoms does not agi'ee 

 with the experience of many practical or- 

 chardists. nor with the teachings of nearly 

 all the authorities. Most spraying is done 

 nowadays with power-sprayers; and to do 

 effective work a pressure of 200 lbs. should 

 be maintained. I have seen even leaves 

 and apples torn from the trees by such a 

 spray, and it is only reasonable to suppose 

 that, when it is driven upon the delicate 

 organs of the blossoms, it will more or less 

 damage them and prevent the proper per- 

 formance of their functions, aside from the 

 corrosive action of the spray or the hin- 

 drance to pollenization by the thorough 

 wetting. 



I have written to the publishei-s of Better 

 Fruit, and hope that something may be 

 done to counteract the influence of these 

 articles. I shall write to several others 

 of the associate editors, with whom I am 

 acquainted, to enlist their influence if pos- 

 sible agianst this revival of an eiTor that 

 had nearly died out among fruit-gTowei-s, 

 or at least the better-informed ones. Bee- 

 keepers should post themselves on the prin- 

 ciples that govern spraying, so that they 

 may be better prepared to overcome the 

 evils that the ignorance or prejudices of 

 fruit-gi'owers may bring upon them. 

 Grand Junction, Colo. 



