Special Report 79 



— this in addition to the regular sprayings of Bordeaux. Even the dreaded 

 " Anthracnose " has been controlled by this application. 



In large plantations of raspberries we have found that the Black Cap 

 varieties to be more affected than the red kinds. Our best treatment has 

 been to keep the growing canes covered with Bordeaux and to cut out and 

 burn old canes as soon as done fruiting. 



For Blackberry " Rust " spraying with full strength Bordeaux and cut- 

 ting clean and burning as soon as seen was the only remedy found efficacious. 



Strawberries : Rusting of the foliage of many varieties has caused 

 great damage to paying crops. By keeping newly set beds well sprayed 

 and dipping the plants in Bordeaux before planting ; and in established 

 beds spray before blossoming and after fruiting mow at once close and clean, 

 scatter over beds old straw and burn all clean, then spray the new foliage 

 with Bordeaux twice during the fall growth. The same treatment for leaf- 

 spot will check and destroy the crown borer in our strawberry fields. A 

 word of caution ! Do not use any arsenious poisons on currants or goose- 

 berries, blackberries, or strawberries, two weeks before picking the fruit. 



For Scale Insects : Twenty parts of lime, 15 parts sulphur, 10 parts 

 sal-soda : Put 15 gallons hot water into a barrel, add lime, then sulphur, 

 and lastly sal-soda. Stir until well slaked, add 50 gallons water. When 

 ready to apply is a red color with sediment. Draw off the wash and apply 

 with spray pump. 



This mixture has given me equally as good results as others made by 

 boiling for hours. 



Protection from Frosts: Late spring and early autumn frosts have 

 caused immense amount of damage in the strawberry fields and vineyards. 

 We have been very successful in combating the baneful effects of killing 

 frosts by the following method : 



Mix coal tar with sawdust and old straw, place in heaps about the fields 

 on the windward side. When heavy frosts threaten set these heaps afire. 

 They will burn for many hours making a dense smoke completely protect- 

 ing the plants and vines heavily laden with blossoms and green fruit in the 

 late spring and the partially ripened fruits in early fall. 



Nut culture: In this important branch greatly increasing interest is 

 being manifested in Northern and Eastern states. We find that the chest- 

 nut varieties and species lead, but the walnuts — both black and white — as 

 well as the shell-bark hickory are receiving attention for the value of the tim- 

 ber of these species enhance the plantings. We have gathered black walnuts 

 from trees seven years from seed. The sweet Spanish and Japan chestnuts 

 are being tested largely here in the east. What the Pecan, Filbert and 

 Almond nuts are to the South and West, the improved chestnuts and wal- 

 nuts are to the North and East. These varieties are well worthy a place 

 either for ornament or fruit. 



