292 BULLETIN 226. 



When is the best time to spray? The number of sprayings and the 

 time to give them must be determined by the season and the objects for 

 which a man is spraying. But many of the enemies, like the apple-scab, 

 must be treated before they appear. The time of attack by this fungus 

 varies to some extent in different years. (See page 335 for a discussion 

 of the fungus.) In the 564 orchards examined in Orleans county in 

 1904 it was found that those apples that were not sprayed immediately 

 after blossoming were invariably scabby, regardless of the earlier and 

 later sprayings. To keep the fruit in the best condition more sprayings 

 were needed, but this was by far the most important application. If there 

 is much rain during the blossoming period and for two to three weeks 

 following more sprayings will, of course, be necessary than in a dry season. 

 No hard and fast rules can be given, but unless some special enemy 

 threatens the crop the best times will be about as follows: 



If three sprayings are given, one just before blossoming, one immedi- 

 ately after blossoming, and one from ten to fourteen days later, will gen- 

 erally give the best results. If two are given, omit the first or third. 

 The second and third are the important ones for the codlin-moth. If 

 only one spraying is given it will usually do the most good if applied 

 immediately after blossoming. For the bud-moth and case-bearer a 

 spraying is needed just as the leaf buds begin to open. 



Do not expect too much from one spraying. If you give three thorough 

 applications you will, under ordinary conditions, have a right to expect 

 clean fruit. 



Some years, as in 1903, good fruit is grown without spraying ; but these 

 years can not be foretold. If we wait till the fungus shows, it is too late 

 to spray. The most successful men spray every year. They consider 

 spraying as insurance. They spray even if there is no crop, for they 



and other insects that suck their food, are not hurt by poisons for the very simple 

 reason that they can not eat poison. We would not expect to kill a mosquito by 

 putting poison on the hand and letting him suck the blood from under it his food, 

 the blood, is not poisoned. These insects feed in a similar manner. They suck the 

 juices from the plant and do not take any material from the surface. They must 

 be killed by kerosene; whale oil soap; lime, salt and sulfur, or by some other 

 spray that kills by contact. Only those which are hit by the spray are killed. 



The various fungi are plants. We might call them weeds that have chosen- to 

 grow on the apple rather than on the ground. They can not eat Paris green nor are 

 they killed by kerosene and such sprays. For them some fungicide, as Bordeaux 

 mixture, must be used. 



