Spraying 213 



Where extra fine specimens of fruit are desired, 

 thinning is practiced. It helps also to prevent the 

 tree from being overtaxed by excessive crops. But 

 where pruning is thoroughly done this trouble is 

 usually avoided. Peaches and Japan plums are 

 especially benefited by thinning, as they have a great 

 tendency to overbear. The spread of fruit diseases, 

 especially rot in the fruit itself, is also to some 

 extent checked. 



Of fruit-tree enemies there are some large sorts 

 which may do great damage in short order — rab- 

 bits and field mice. They may be kept away by 

 mechanical protection, such as wire, or by heaping 

 the earth up to a height of twelve inches about the 

 tree trunk. Or they may be caught with poisoned 

 baits, such as boiled grain in which a little Rough 

 on Rats or similar poison has been mixed. The 

 former method for the small home garden is little 

 trouble, safer to Fido and Tabby, and the most re- 

 liable in effect. 



Insects and scale diseases are not so easily man- 

 aged ; and that brings us to the question of spraying 

 and of sprays. 



For large orchards the spray must, of course, be 

 applied with powerful and expensive machinery. 

 For the small fruit garden a much simpler and very 

 moderate priced apparatus may be acquired. The 

 most practical of these is the brass-tank com- 



