SPRAY MANAGEMENT 13 



EXCELLENT CONTROL 



The three-time schedules in Figure 9 represent the spray program 

 on three farms, in 1932, where excellent control was obtained. One 

 farm applied four sprays and the other two put on six sprays, including 

 a delayed dormant. One operator covered only part of the orchard for 

 the first and last spray. A close study of the three schedules reveals 

 some variation in the time and pattern of application. 



Orchard Al consisted of a mixed-age orchard with few trees over 

 25 years. In 1932, the 802 trees were equivalent to only 133 mature 

 trees and the normal expected yield was 903 bushels. The land is roll- 

 ing and the site is favorable for spraying. The operator used a semi- 

 homemade outfit with a 125-gallon tank and a pump capacity of six to 

 eight gallons per minute. An old long spray rod and nozzle and 50 feet 

 of hose were used. The water was obtained from a one-inch hose at- 

 tached to the farm water supply system. A team and two men were 

 employed in the operation. 



In applying the four sprays, 60 hours were required to put on the 

 5875 gallons. This is approximately 98 gallons per machine hour and 

 49 gallons per man hour. The rate of application per hour and the 

 amount applied were greater in the calyx and first cover sprays. This 

 operator, working with mostly young trees, had excellent control with 

 only four sprays and a total application of 45 gallons per mature tree 

 equivalent or 6.2 gallons per bushel of apples. 



Orchard A2 consists of 962 trees equivalent to 441 mature trees, in 

 1932. The expected normal yield was 3210 bushels. Mcintosh made up 

 about three-fifths of the orchard. 



A 200-gallon tank, with 10-gallon-per-minute pump capacity, was 

 used to apply 20,200 gallons of spray in 134^ hours. A team and a 

 three-man crew were used. The material was applied at the average 

 rate of 150 gallons per machine hour and 50 gallons per man hour. In- 

 cluding the delayed dormant, six sprays were used. With the exception 

 of the first cover, each spray was applied within a three-day period. 



Orchard A3 is a larger orchard of approximately 4700 young bear- 

 ing trees, in 1932. They represented the equivalent of 1026 mature trees 

 and an expected normal yield of 5974 bushels. A large 300-gallon out- 

 fit and a crew of three men applied 40,350 gallons of spray in 188J4 

 hours. 



To summarize, a moderate amount of material and the usual amount 

 of sprays were applied on these three orchards. The operators were 

 careful to cover the entire tree. However, all three orchards consisted 

 of young trees, with tops easily reached with spray. There were few 

 trees over 25 years of age and this may be very important in the prob- 



Table 1— Data on Orchardists Al, A2, A3 for 1932 



