78 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



is not absorbed through the skin remains on it, forming a fine coat- 

 ing which must evidently be detrimental to health, especially where 

 the fruit is consumed to any extent. If the American apple, as it 

 comes from the vessel is carefully rubbed with the finger, it will be 

 seen that a fine delicate powder in most cases is removed. This is 

 the arsenic adhering to the skin." 



There certainly is no doubt that fruit from which a coating of 

 arsenic may be rubbed with the finger would be very unwholesome if 

 eaten in large quantities. The trouble with the objection is, the fine 

 white powder is not Paris green. I have yet to see the fruit which 

 at maturity showed any visible effect of spraying, except compara- 

 tive freedom from worminess. 



The statement made by the Boston paper, and by certain of the 

 shippers consulted, concerning the time of spraying is as misleading 

 as is the statement of the English Journal, though in the opposite 

 direction. The statement is made, that the trees are sprayed "'only 

 when in blossom, as the purpose is to get at the insect which gets in 

 there." Now we know that this statement is entirely wrong. Spray- 

 ing is never commenced, or should never be, until after the blossoms 

 fall. The position of our English cousins is weak, and it is unne- 

 cessary to go beyond the facts of the case to prove the weakness. 



The strongest mixture recommended is one pound to 200 gallons 

 water. Personally I think one pound to 250 gallons strong enough. 

 If we apply two gallons of the mixture to a single tree, we should 

 use, approximately one one-hundredth of a pound, or sevent}' grains 

 of the poison on the whole tree, at each application. The fruits are 

 so small at the time of spraying, that it would be impossible to make 

 as much as five per cent of the poison stay on them. There is not 

 sufficient surface to retain a larger amount. But, even supposing 

 this proportion correct, and that the trees are spra3'ed twice, if there 

 are 1200 fruits — about three barrels — to the tree, the amount of 

 poison per fruit would be less than three one-thousandth grain 

 (.0029). 



But in our calculations we have not taken into account the fact 

 that the fruit is exposed to sunshine and rain for four months before 

 it is ready for use, and I am not sure but Professor Riley was about 

 right when he expressed the opinion that "it would be necessary for a 

 man to be able to eat fifty bushels of apples in order to get an appre- 

 ciable amount of arsenic into his system." There certainly is no 

 reason why fruit sprayed as directed should be unwholesome when 



