188 AGRICULTURE 



of growths on fruit, foliage or branches. For these pests 

 sprays are used that are fatal to the parasite but not in- 

 jurious to the plant. 



Scab, rust, rot, blight and mildew are examples of 

 fungous enemies. In some cases the one variety attacks 

 several different garden fruits, thus allowing the same 

 spraying mixture to be used on all the various crops. In 

 other cases, different fungicide compounds must be employed 

 for the different fruits. 



Spraying. The composition of some of the different 

 spraying mixtures is described in Chapter XIII. It is evident 

 from the nature of the insects and diseases attacking fruit 

 that no one remedy will serve all purposes. Apples, plums, 

 peaches, pears and cherries are the special target of a wide 

 range of insects and fungi. These plants will need several 

 sprayings, using different insecticides and fungicides ac- 

 cording to the pest threatening. Every fruit gardener must 

 understand the nature and use of the required compounds. 



All fruit trees should be treated with a dormant spray, 

 applied some time during the dormant season, usually about 

 March. The object is to kill the various scale insects and 

 mites which winter on the tree. Bordeaux mixture or lime- 

 sulphur solution is effective. Bordeaux should not be used 

 on plums or peaches. 



A second spraying should be applied just after the leaf 

 buds burst, but before the blossoms open. The mixture 

 may be a combination of lime-sulphur or Bordeaux and 

 arsenate of lead. This is to destroy the curculio, scab, leaf 

 blight and similar enemies. 



Apples should be given their third spraying immediately 

 after the petals fall, but before the calyx tubes close. The 

 chief purpose of this application is to destroy the codling- 

 moth, which is responsible for most of our wormy apples. 

 The same mixture may be used as in the second spraying. 



