92 beginners' guide to fruit growing 



insect poison, preferably arsenate of lead. Bor- 

 deaux mixture protects the newly formed leaves 

 from the attacks and fungi, while the poison pro- 

 tects the newly formed apples, pears or quinces 

 from the attacks of the codling moth and the foliage 

 from the incursions of leaf-eating insects. Under 

 no circumstances should the spraying be done while 

 the fruit trees are in blossom. It may injure the 

 fruit blossoms, and it is almost sure to poison the 

 bees, which are one of the fruit grower's best 

 friends. 



5. About two weeks later another spraying is due, 

 this time with bordeaux mixture and poison, or 

 with weak lime-sulphur and poison. 



6. Additional sprayings are usually recommended 

 up to the middle of July or the first of August, to 

 be given at intervals of 10 days to two weeks. There 

 are very few fruit growers, however, who carry out 

 this complete program, omissions commonly being 

 made from the foot of this list. Careful experiments 

 and wide experience have both shown, however, 

 that four, five and six sprayings may be usually 

 given at a profit. Each successive spraying will 

 show a sufficient gain over the previous ones to pay 

 its cost and leave something for the fruit grower. 



Such an outline as that here given can be only 

 suggestive, of course. Improvements in spray solu- 

 tions and spraying methods are being made rapidly 

 year by year, and local conditions of climate often 

 require important adjustments. Those who are 

 inexperienced in spraying operations and who can- 

 not easily come by the personal help of some one 

 who knows, had better get the latest spray bulletin 

 from their state experiment station before begin- 

 ning. Such bulletins are issued in most states, and 



