INSECTS 179 



therefore immune from spray injury. Spraying may be safely done 

 at any time after the leaves are off until just before the blooms 

 begin to open in the spring. Weather conditions usually are more 

 favorable in the fall ; among other things there is an absence of 

 the high winds prevailing in February and March. For reasons 

 concerned with fungous affections of the apple, it would seem 

 more desirable, however, to apply a full-strength scale insecticide 

 as late in the spring as may be done with safety to the tree and 

 fruit. The fungicidal value of such an application would continue 

 to be felt into the period of early development of fruit and foliage, 

 and act as a preventive of the diseases that are prevalent both at 

 that time and later. However, the orchardist should be governed 

 by conditions, only being sure to give at least one thorough spraying 

 within the time limits named above. 



As exterminators of the San Jose scale, the standard solutions 

 of lime and sulphur have proved without an equal and are as cheap 

 as the other compounds sometimes used. The only other exter- 

 minators worthy of mention are the soluble-oil preparations and 

 kerosene emulsion. Of the former a few, notably Scalecide, have 

 done excellent work. But lime-sulphur solution possesses com- 

 posite qualities which are lacking in miscible oils ; it is both a 

 powerful insecticide and a fungicide, the latter property usually 

 being absent in the oil preparations. Lime-sulphur wash produces 

 a sanitary condition of the bark, causes dead tissues and scales to 

 slough off, and leaves the trees smooth and clean. 



Recommendations. As a spray for San Jose scale when the tree 

 is in a dormant state, lime and sulphur is recommended, the appli- 

 cation to be made from any time after the foliage is off until just 

 before the blooms appear. Any good prepared lime and sulphur, 

 well applied, will give the desired results. Nothing is superior to 

 the homemade article, though it is comparatively little used because 

 the prepared solutions give practically the same results without the 

 trouble and cost of cooking. The manufacturers of the commer- 

 cial article generally recommend diluting it at a ratio of 1 part lime 

 and sulphur to 10 parts water. It should not be forgotten that 

 the more thorough the application the better the results. One in- 

 fested limb or twig left unsprayed by a careless workman may easily 

 reinfest the tree and its fruit before reproduction is suspended. 



