SPRAYING 65 



HEIyPFUI, HINTS. 



Bordeaux mixture is best when used a few hours after being 

 mixed. 



After spraying, pump air or water through the pump and 

 hose to clean them of the mixture, so that it shall not needlessly 

 corrode them. 



All spraying mixtures should be constantly agitated when in 

 use. If this is not done, some of the ingredients (particularly 

 Paris green) are apt to settle to bottom of tank or barrel. 



A properly thrown spray is a fine mist, like steam ; it 

 shouldn't be a fall of raindrops. It should settle on a tree like 

 dew, and there need be very little "drip" upon the ground. 



Never spray trees while they are in blossom. No need to do 

 it, and it would kill the orchardist's best friend the bees. 

 Without bees, blossoms would not be properly cross-fertilized. 



Don't try to cover all sides of a large tree at one operation. 

 Take one side along the row, then when the wind is favorable 

 come back on the other side (for lack of this precaution many 

 trees are half-dead on that "other" side). 



If rain falls immediately after an application, it must be 

 repeated as soon as the plants are fairly dry again. But if the 

 mixture once gets dried on the foliage it may adhere fairly well 

 in spite of rains. Some mixtures stick and last much better 

 than others. 



A few fruit-growers favor the dust method of spraying. 

 Instead of liquids they use powdered forms of insecticides and 

 fungicides, blown into the trees by means of special apparatus. 

 The idea doubtless has some good points, but a liquid spray 

 seems to suit most folks best. 



A. W. Cheever tells in Farm Journal of a contrivance that 

 will be a boon to the man who holds the sprayer rod, consisting 



of an extension to prevent the liquid getting on the hands. The 

 pipe has a rod attached set off about four inches, for grasping by 

 the hands. This does not get wet as does the tube. 



