REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I909 35 



ascertain, the use of poison in Colorado and adjacent fruit-grow- 

 ing sections, has been much more liberal than in the East, and 

 the probabilities are that similar trouble, if it be due to poison, 

 will not manifest itself to any great extent in New York State 

 for some years to come. Nevertheless, it is not only more 

 economical but it is by all means advisable to bear this in mind 

 when spraying and to endeavor to secure a maximum result 

 with a minimum of poison. 



Dry poisons. The application of poisons dry, frequently 

 termed " dust spraying," has been warmly advocated in recent 

 years, though careful experiments show that the dry method is 

 less effective in controlling codling moth. It may be advisable 

 in localities where the nature of the land or other conditions 

 make it almost impossible to use the heavier outfit necessary 

 for applications of liquids. The drifting or blowing dust is very 

 annoying, since it is almost impossible to dodge it entirely, and 

 furthermore, there is, in our judgment, more danger of ill effects 

 to the operator resulting from the continued use of this material. 



Apparatus. There are now on the market a number of good 

 spray pumps and spraying outfits. The selection of any one to 

 the exclusion of otheVs, must be decided very largely by local 

 conditions. The essentials in a spraying outfit, be it large or 

 small, are ample power, sufficient mobility, plenty of hose and a 

 nozzle extension oi* other arrangement so as to permit of 

 the thorough and rapid covering of the foliage with the in- 

 secticide or fungicide. A tower is almost invaluable in a level 

 orchard and of little service in a hilly one. We believe it ad- 

 visable for the beginner to invest in a hand outfit and learn by 

 actual experience whether his conditions justify the purchase of 

 the much more efficient and correspondingly expensive power 

 outfit. 



The extended experience with spray apparatus of various 

 kinds in eastern Massachusetts, has resulted in several improve- 

 ments which may be of material benefit to our fruit growers. 

 One of considerable utility is the long-tailed coupling, a device 

 which does not reduce the diameter of the hose at the point of 

 coupling, and furthermore permits the attachment of two broad 

 bands to each portion of the coupling, thus preventing ** blow 

 offs " almost entirely. Another handy device is the " goose- 

 neck," which is nothing more than a short piece of bent pipe 

 attached to the usual horizontal connection, so that the hose 



