246 The Spraying of Plants. 



said that in some counties there was not produced one car-load 

 of first-class fruit. It is no wonder that apple-growing does not 

 always pay. The wonder is that it ever does pay, when the 

 care given the orchard is considered. The causes of the many 

 failures are principally two: first, the neglect of the top, as 

 regards pruning, spraying, and similar operations ; second, the 

 neglect of the roots, as regards feeding and the condition of 

 the soil. It rests entirely with the grower if his trees shall 

 produce scabby fruit or perfect fruit. He can make his choice, 

 and the outcome will be as he chooses. In this statement, no 

 variety, however susceptible it may be to the attacks of the scab, 

 is excepted. Some varieties, as the Spitzenberg, Fameuse, Fall 

 Pippin, Early Harvest, and in many localities the Baldwin, 

 seldom produce uniformly good fruit, and with few exceptions, 

 the last has been far from perfect during the past few years. 

 Ben Davis, King, Fallawater, and many other varieties are not 

 nearly so much affected by the scab. 1 These varieties need less 

 care and often produce very fair crops without any special 

 attention, but in such cases they generally bear in years of 

 plenty, when prices run low except for extra fine fruit. 



Treatment. Treatment of the apple scab should begin early in 

 the season. This was forcibly shown in the spring of 1892. 2 

 The first application, using Bordeaux mixture, was made June 

 13, about one week after the blossoms had fallen from the trees. 

 At the time of the second application, June 22, small portions 

 affected with the scab fungus could occasionally be found upon 

 the apples in places thickly covered by the Bordeaux mixture 

 previously applied. These portions were undoubtedly attacked 

 before the first application was made. As this occurred soon 

 after the blossoms fell, it is clear that the trees were sprayed too 

 late. They should receive at least one application before the 

 blossoms open. The value of this has been demonstrated in 

 another way. D. G. Fairchild observed the growing mycelium 

 upon apple twigs even before the buds broke, and this would 

 indicate that for very susceptible varieties it may be well to 

 spray with a solution of the sulphate of copper when the buds 

 are swelling. 



1 Cornell Agric. Exp- Sta. Bull. 48, 288-290. 



2 For detailed account of experiments in the treatment of apple scab, see Cornell 

 Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 48, 265-274 ; also Bulletins 60 and 86. 



