PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 337 



despite the most careful work, enough insects will always escape so that 

 the result of spraying will not be complete eradication. 



It is hard to get sprayers to realize the difficulty of wetting every 

 square inch of surface of a tree unless they will examine them imme- 

 diately after making the application, before the spray has had a chance 

 to dry. Then it will be seen that certain portions have been missed 

 because of the spray not having been directed at proper angles to 

 reach them. Too often we find sprayers directing the spray from one 

 side, allowing the wind to carry the mist through the branches with 

 the idea that in doing this they are getting good results. Spraying 

 done from one side of a tree only is never thoroughly done. If the 

 wind is blowing far better results can be attained by spraying against 

 the wind, when not too hard, with a high pressure so that the spray will 

 be blown back upon the opposite side of the trees. The best spraying 

 is done when the sprayer walks entirely around the trees spraying 

 each from every possible angle as he proceeds. The work is greatly 

 facilitated by the use of a forty-five degree angle used as an elbow for 

 the nozzle. This angle enables the sprayer to easily direct the spray 

 upward, downward or any desired angle to the side. 



QUANTITY OF MATERIAL. 



More stress must be laid upon the methods of application and the 

 thoroughness of application than the strength of the insecticide or 

 fungicide used. In the case of most of the sprays careful experimenters 

 have determined the amount that it is necessary to use in order to 

 control the pests for which the spray is designed. Increasing the 

 recommended strength in order that better results may be attained is 

 usually a foolish practice as no strength of material can be effectively 

 used unless it reaches the insects or pests. The man who fails to get 

 results in spraying with a standard mixture and who attempts to make 

 improvement by strengthening the spray in practically every case would 

 accomplish his purpose not in the way attempted, but by using more of 

 the standard strength mixture. In other words, too often failure to 

 get results is due to the use of from three to five gallons of spray per 

 large tree when thoroughness and success would require at least twice 

 this amount. 



THE PIPING SYSTEM FOR SPRAYING. 



On account of wet weather the ground in an orchard is frequently 

 so soft that a spray truck can not be moved about. Such a condition 

 as this has interfered with spraying for scab practically every spring, 

 in some of our orchards. The solution of this problem is found in the 

 piping system of spraying which enables the fruit grower to treat his 

 trees at any time during the season when rain is not falling. 



The cost of installing the piping system is quite heavy and is the 

 factor that prevents its general use. After installation the expense of 

 operation is much less than that of the commonly used gasoline-power 

 outfit. Some figures for comparison may be of interest in this connec- 

 tion. Ordinarily, three men are required to operate the gasoline-power 

 sprayer, two nozzlemen and a man to attend to the team, pump and 

 outfit in general. The usual capacity of a tank is 200 gallons. By 



119 



