344 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



Some Warnings. Few growers need advising not to do 

 more spraying than is found necessary. If any of the 

 applications recommended can be do-ne without in a good 

 season, by all means let them be omitted. This may often 

 happen in gardens, though seldom in the market plan- 

 tation. Too much spraying does not do the trees any 

 good ; and with Bordeaux mixture in particular there is 

 danger of scorching the foliage, some varieties (Cox'S 

 Orange Pippin, for instance) being much more liable to 

 damage than others 



In the absence of chemical knowledge it is safer to buy 

 the prepared washes. 



Another necessary warning is that arsenate of lead is 

 very poisonous, and should not be used on fruit near the 

 time of gathering for use. 



In the case of winter washes containing caustic soda, 

 it. should be remembered that they burn the skin of the 

 face and hands. Vaseline on the face, and hedging gloves 

 on the hands are sufficient protection. 



Hints on Spraying. The main point in spraying is to 

 cover all parts of the tree or bush with a fine, mist-like 

 spray, without drenching it. Never should it be so much 

 soaked that the wash drips off the points of the leaves. 

 This is where there is most danger of scorching. From 

 this it will be gathered that the spraying nozzle is very 

 important. An ordinary garden syringe, with its com- 

 paratively coarse rose, is of no use at all ; but there are 

 syringes made with proper nozzles that do the work quite 

 well in a small garden, or even a large one. The spray 

 (must be delivered in a regular cloud which is easily car- 

 ried on the wind. For washes containing lime special 

 nozzles are required. 



! For use in larger gardens and on the fruit farm there 

 are many spraying machines, made in all sizes. The 

 various knapsack machines, which are carried on the 

 back, will be found very handy, even where the work to 

 be done is extensive ; though much more powerful 



