December Making Plans 



In the Fruit Garden 



Cleansing Fruit Trees. The simplest method of 

 cleansing fruit trees is by spraying with caustic wash 

 during the winter months. This not only gets rid of 

 moss and lichen, but has the effect also of lessening the 

 number of insect pests. Those who do not care to go 

 to the trouble of mixing a wash are advised to obtain 

 a preparation called Sodalin, which may be had from 

 nurserymen. In using a caustic wash it is necessary 

 to wear gloves and old clothes, and to take care that 

 none of the liquid falls on the face. The best method of 

 application is by means of a proper sprayer; this is, in 

 fact, the only practicable way of dealing with large trees. 

 Small fruit bushes may be treated with a syringe having 

 a nozzle that throws out a fine spray. It is important 

 that the liquid be made to reach all parts of the tree, 

 every nook and crevice, so that disease germs and insect 

 pests may be destroyed. The use of caustic wash is 

 especially beneficial in the case of old orchards, where 

 the fruit trees have been neglected for years. All 

 foreign matter is cleared off, and after the spraying is 

 finished the stems and branches look as though they 

 had been polished. Spraying should be done in December 

 and again in January. An effective caustic wash is 

 prepared by placing 1 Ib. of caustic soda in water and 

 1 Ib. of potash in water, separately, and leaving both 

 until dissolved. Then they are mixed together and f Ib. 

 of treacle is added. After the mixture has been 

 thoroughly stirred, enough water is added to make 10 

 gallons of liquid. It is not wise to spray fruit trees 

 with caustic wash more than once every three or four 

 years ; the practice of spraying annually with this wash 

 has been found to be harmful. 



Pruning Fruit Trees. The work of chief importance 

 among fruit trees is that of pruning ; this may be carried 

 out at any time from the middle of December until 

 the end of January. It must be admitted that this is 



105 



