TWELVE] OUR RIVALS—THE INSECTS 
danger can occur to an apple or pear from a strong 
solution, but I should prefer a much weaker solu- 
tion for the plum and cherry, and for peaches I 
should be still more cautious. For large orchards 
the simplest way is to drive a cart about, on which 
is placed a large barrel rigged with pump and hose 
and nozzle. For my own grounds, which do not 
everywhere admit a cart, I use a barrel rigged be- 
tween two wheels, and having shafts for a horse. 
Cover your horse and harness with a large sheet or 
blanket, to keep them from being stained. Spray- 
ing should not be repeated after this until the petals 
have fallen from the apple. Just before the apples 
turn over on their stems another spraying may be 
given, and, if the work has been well done, this is 
sufficient; even two good applications are better 
than four poor ones. Most of the spraying that is 
done by hired professionals is worthless. No good 
is accomplished unless the tree is absolutely cov- 
ered with fine spray. In all cases, after the first 
spraying, both Bordeaux and arsenites should be 
applied together. 
Meanwhile, just after the plum blossoms fall, we 
have a sharp battle with the curculio — a curious 
beetle that we have not been able to reach ade- 
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