86 



pears to me that unless something is done in the way of sending 

 out precise instructions fruit growing will cease to exist. I put 

 the general failure down to : ( I ) spraying at the wrong times ( 2 ) 

 to careless mixing of the spray, (3) to insufficient pressure, (4) 

 to bad spraying. (5) inadequate outfits. 



I must 'confess that I was disheartened once this last season, 

 "but only because we had an absurdly small outfit. Nevertheless, 

 we kept the Codlin well in check. 



I consider this so important a matter for fruit growers in 

 the O.F.S. that I am asking you direct to have some very ex- 

 plicit leaflets printed and circulated among all our fruit growers. 

 I -hould like to give you our experiences and suggestions for you 

 to use as you think fit. truit growers are very disheartened, 

 and at present have no confidence in the spray. 



Outfit. One Cushman power pump spraying at 150 Ibs. ; 

 and two Bean Alagic pumps of two hoses working at 125 Ibs. 

 pressure. I found that at a greater pressure than 175 Ibs. my 

 hoses were always bursting. 



Spray used, Key brand arsenate of lead 4 Ibs. to the 100 

 gallons for all sprayings. Trees sprayed : 



4,640 pears, twice. 



940 early apples, once. 



11.720 late, three times. 



2.500 Versvelds sprayed once between first and second spray- 

 ings. 



The outfit was too small to cover all trees, so thin crops on 

 1,500 Jonathans and 2.500 Versvelds were left, and the latter 

 sprayed once late. This was a mistake, as the fruit contained at 

 least 75 per cent. Codlin. 



The first spraying began on October ist, and as far as pos- 

 sible varieties were sprayed at the falling of the last blossoms. 



Observation has shown that the moths are out in this dis- 

 trict as soon as the trees are in blossom. 



The result of this spraying was practically a clean sheet all 

 through, the only exception being the last few varieties. This 

 emphasises the necessity of having a big enough outfit to cover 

 all trees at the proper time. As we have no heavy rains at this 

 period spray remained, and no further spraying was done until 

 November igth, when all trees, except early apples, were re- 

 sprayed as quickly as possible. This spraying took place between 

 heavy rains, including two downpours of an inch in half an hour, 

 and I was satisfied that the spray had stuck all right. 



The third spraying began on January T7th a week too late, 

 as the worms were beginning to crawl. 



Result: Early apples were marketed with less than 5 per 

 cent. A crop of 5,000 half -apple boxes of Bon Chretien pears 

 were not more than i per cent, except the last picked, which were 



