twelve] our rivals — the INSECTS 



danger can occur to an apple or pear from a strong 

 solution, but I should prefer a much weaker solu- 

 tion for the plum and cherry, and for peaches I 

 should be still more cautious. For large orchards 

 the simplest way is to drive a cart about, on which 

 is placed a large barrel rigged with pump and hose 

 and nozzle. For my own grounds, which do not 

 everywhere admit a cart, I use a barrel rigged be- 

 tween two wheels, and having shafts for a horse. 

 Cover your horse and harness with a large sheet or 

 blanket, to keep them from being stained. Spray- 

 ing should not be repeated after this until the petals 

 have fallen from the apple. Just before the apples 

 turn over on their stems another spraying may be 

 given, and, if the work has been well done, this is 

 sufficient; even two good applications are better 

 than four poor ones. Most of the spraying that is 

 done by hired professionals is worthless. No good 

 is accomplished unless the tree is absolutely cov- 

 ered with fine spray. In all cases, after the first 

 spraying, both Bordeaux and arsenites should be 

 applied together. 



Meanwhile, just after the plum blossoms fall, we 

 have a sharp battle with the curculio — a curious 

 beetle that we have not been able to reach ade- 



[261] 



