54 



1' H E CANADIAN H () R T 1 C U L T U 11 1 S T 



intelligent and perfect spraying gives 

 perfect fruit. He cited a case where a 

 grape grower sprayed four times with 

 Bordeaux mixture and had with some 

 varieties 99 per cent, perfect fruit, de- 

 spite adverse conditions. Other varie- 

 ties averaged 94 to 92 per cent perfect. 

 Several owners of large vinevards in 



the same section did not spray, and had 

 not a single pound fit for market. 



Direct results of this nature have 

 been obtained by the leading growers 

 in all sections. Scores of other cases 

 could be mentioned by The Hokticul- 

 TUKiST. Those growers who have un- 

 dertaken spraying most extensively, 



provided intelligence was combined with 

 the work, realize the benefits and the 

 returns in dollars and cents. Insect 

 pests and fungous diseases must be 

 combatted. It is then the part of the 

 grower to study the method of pro- 

 cedure which would best suit his con- 

 ditions, i 



Fruit Unemies and THeir Treatment 





MANY fruit growers with good in- 

 tentions are disgusted with spray 

 ing each year because they do not know 

 what spraying mixture to use, nor when 

 to apply it. Bordeaux mixture is recog- 

 nized as the standard for general orchard 

 use, but there are pests on which this 

 mixture has no effect. P^very grower 

 has not the time nor the opportunity to 

 study insect life, but very little investi- 

 gation regarding these enemies is neces- 

 sary to distinguish between the forms 

 that are destroyed by certain classes of 

 spraying mixtures. 



A study of insect life has revealed the 

 fact that as far as injury to plant growth 

 from insects is concerned there are two 

 main classes — those that eat the vege- 

 table tissue and those which suck the 

 juices without destroying the tissue 

 proper. The former class, to which 

 belong the Potato Beetle, the larvte of 

 the Codling Moth, and numerous other 

 forms, can readily be destroyed by Paris 

 green or some such poison. To the class 

 of sucking insects belong the scale in- 

 sects, aphids or plant lice, and various 

 other forms. Since these do not eat 

 the tissue they must be destroyed by 

 some means other than poisoning. Some 

 caustic preparation that injures the 

 body must be applied. For years kero- 

 sene emulsion was the standard but 

 many commercial mixtures, including 

 Scalecide, Kiloscale and such prepara- 

 tions are recommended by prominent 

 fruit growers as being effective and 

 cheap. Powder preparations, too, such 

 as hellebore, are effective because they 

 get into the breathing pores and so 

 destroy the pest. The Lime Sulphur 

 wash has become popular in many sec- 

 tions and is by many claimed to be the 

 standard treatment for scale insects. 



Then there are the fungous and the 

 bacterial diseases. The former include 

 such well-known troubles as Apple Scab, 

 Black Knot, Mildew, Black Rot, and 

 kindred diseases. These are readily 

 destroyed by such fungicidal mixtures 

 as Bordeaux mixture or ammonia cop- 

 per carbonate, if treated thoroughly and 

 at the proper time. The bacterial 

 diseases comprise Peach Yellows, Pear 

 Blight, several rots commonly found in 

 vegetables, and many other troubles. 

 They are the most difficult enemies to 

 combat. Prevention is better than cure. 



Care should be taken to discard varieties 

 that are most susceptible to the diseases 

 and every trace should be removed and 

 burned as soon as it is noticed. If the 

 soil becomes infested with the germs 

 that produce a certain trouble, it takes 

 years to remove them. 



A careful consideration of these classes 

 of pests shows that the Paris green and 

 bordeaux mixture merits the place it 

 holds as a standard material for spray- 

 ing. The Paris green plays havoc with 

 insects which eat the tissue, while the 

 Bordeaux mixture destroys fungous 

 forms. The mixture used, however, 

 must be regulated by the pests that are 

 present and the sooner growers disabuse 

 their minds of the idea that Bordeaux- 

 Paris green mixture is the cure all for 

 the orchard the better for them. Any 

 quantity of it would never eradicate San 

 Jose Scale. Likewise, the most effective 

 treatment for San Jose Scales and other 

 would be useless on combatting insect 

 forms which eat. 



Labor is scarce and some spraying 

 mixtures expensive. It is, then, im- 

 portant that the grower make a careful 

 study of the troubles with which he has 

 to contend, and that he apply the proper 

 mixture in whatever way is best suited 

 to his conditions. As a general rule 

 those who have made a study of fighting 

 insects and fungi recommend about five 

 sprayings in a season. This rule, how- 

 ever, does not hold good in every case. 



In an interview secured by a repre- 

 sentative of The Canadian Horticul- 

 turist with Mr. J. C. Harris, of Inger- 

 soll, Mr. Harris said; "Spraying must be 

 done according to the season. If done 

 thoroughly, four times is usually enough. 

 Consideraijle difficulty is frequently 

 experienced in giving the first applica- 

 tion in the spring because the ground is 

 so soft. On the average 80 or 90 per 

 cent, of the fruit is free from blemish if 

 the trees receive four or five applications 

 of the Bordeaux-Paris green mixture. 



After carefully studying orchard and 

 garden pests, and the best methods of 

 combatting them Prof. W. Lochhead, 

 of the Ontario Agricultural College, pre- 

 pared a spray calendar showing the 

 preparation of the various spraying 

 mixtures, the mixture most effective 

 in destroying the common pests and the 

 dates at which applications should be 



1^' 



given in each case. This information 

 has been published in bulletin 122. 



In fighting leaf-eating insects and 

 fungous diseases that attack the apple 

 and the pear, Prof. Lochhead recom- 

 mends Paris green and water (Paris green 

 1 tb. ; water, 150 gals.; freshly slacked 

 lime, 2 lbs.), just as the leaf buds are 

 expanding, to destroy bud- moths and 

 case-bearers. About a week later Bor- 

 deaux mixture and Paris green (blue 

 stone, 4 tbs. ; lime, 4 lbs. ; Paris green, 4 

 oz. ; water, 40 gals.) is required for bud- 

 moths, case-bearers, canker-worms and 

 tent-caterpillars as well as scab, leaf 

 spot and mildew. XThree subsequent 

 sprayings with Bordeaux and Paris green 

 are recommended/one just before the 

 blossoms open for canker-worms, tent- 

 caterpillars, etc., as well as for such 

 fungi as scab and leaf spot;, one just 

 after the blossoms fall for Bodling 

 Moth, canker-worms, tent-caterpillars, 

 pear slugs, scab and leaf spot;i'and one 

 10 days or two weeks later for Codling 

 Moth, Palmer worm apple Bucculatrix, 

 scab, leaf spot, etc. 



For sucking insects on the apple and 

 pear kerosene emulsion, whale oil soap, 

 or lime wash are recommended, for pear- 

 leaf, blister-mite, pear psylla, aphids. 

 oyster shell, bark louse, etc. Applica- 

 tions should be given before the buds 

 open, as the leaves are unfolding, again 

 10 days later, and about June 1. Pro- 

 fessor Lochhead also advises the appli- 

 cation of lime wash during winter for 

 - these pests. 



The following treatment is suggested 

 for the peach orchard: against Peach 

 leaf Curl, Brown Rot, Curculio and Bud- 

 moth, Bordeaux mixture and Paris green 

 before the flower buds open, after the 

 blossoms fall, and again two weeks later. 

 Besides a spraying with ammonia-copper 

 carbonate (copper carbonate, 1 oz. ; 

 strong ammonia, ^ pint or more; and 

 water 10 gals.) is advised after the fruit 

 is well formed. At this season the Bor- 

 deaux mixture cannot be used because 

 it spoils the appearance of the fruit. 

 Aphids and scale insects on the peach 

 can be kept in check by the use of kero- 

 sene emulsion (soft soap 1 qt., boiling 

 soft water 1 gal., coal oil 2 gals.) diluted 

 one part in 10 of water or whale oil soap 

 one pound in seven gallons of water. 

 Aphids should be treated as soon as they 



