COST OP PRODUCING APPLES IN HOOD RIVER VALLEY. 



37 



the cost is found to be $3.55 for material and labor, or 20 per cent of 

 the total spraying costs on all the orchards considered. 



A later dormant spray is now being advocated for killing the leaf 

 roller and aphis eggs. It is made with a soluble oil or miscible 

 oil, diluted and mixed with water at the rate of about 3 gallons of 

 oil to each 60 gallons of spray mixture. In applying this, high 

 pressure is used, and the spray is driven against the branches with 

 great force. The nozzles are held close, so as to cover thoroughly 

 the terminal buds, fruit spurs, and smaller limbs. Large-chamber 

 type mist nozzles are used for this purpose. This spray is not gen- 

 erally practiced as yet, but it is increasing in favor. 



The second regular spray is generally applied about the time the 

 fruit buds are showing pink and is known as the " pink spray." In 

 the lower valley it is made around April 20. This is applied primarily 

 as a preventive against apple scab. A 33° Baume»(25 per cent sul- 

 phur in solution) lime and sulphur solution, mixed at the rate of 

 1-25, or 2 gallons of the solution to each 50 gallons of spray, is the 

 strength generally used. This spfay, used by about 50 per cent of 

 the groAvers, is applied very thoroughly. The aim is to cover the 

 entire surface of the tree, paying particular attention to the leaf buds 

 and expanding fruit buds. The average time in applying the pink 

 spray, together with other lime-sulphur sprays which may be later 

 applied without lead, is 4.13 man-hours and 3.39 horse-hours per 

 acre, or an average of 5.9 acres per day. About 1,300 gallons of 

 material is used in 10 hours. The labor cost of $1.44 and a material 

 cost of $0.97 make a total of $2.41 per application. The cost of all 

 lime-sulphur diluted sprays applied for scab (in combination with 

 no other material) is $1.39 per acre, or about 8 per cent of the total 

 cost for spraying for all orchards. 



The third regular spray, and perhaps the most important of all, 

 is the calyx, or first arsenate of lead spray, coming about May 10, 

 w^hen about 90 per cent of the petals have fallen. This spray is ap- 

 plied so as to place the poison well into the calyx cup, for the control 

 of the codling-moth larva. A fungicide is ordinarily used at this 

 time, in order to cover the foliage and forming fruit as a preventive 

 for apple scab. The " calyx spray " is made by all orchardists of the 

 valley, although there is some variation in the kind and quantities 

 of spray materials used. 



A common mixture used by about two-thirds of the growers is 

 made of 1 gallon of lime-sulphur and 2 pounds of paste lead arsenate 

 to 50 gallons of spray mixture. A few use only lead arsenate and 

 water at the rate of about 2 pounds of lead arsenate to 50 gallons 

 of water. For the most part those who use no lime-sulphur use a 



