CHAPTER X 
SPRAYING—THINNING 
SpraYInG.—Spraying—at all events, the first spraying of 
the season, with lime and sulphur—should, like pruning, 
be performed when the tree is dormant, and before any 
sign of a green leaf appears. We spray our fruit-trees, 
partly to prevent the attacks of fungus and insect 
enemies, and partly to administer a tonic to the trees. 
If we had any fungus or insect pests to fight against 
—fortunately, we have none worth speaking about in 
British Columbia—we should have to spray in order to 
destroy them. Many growers spray only once, with the 
lime and sulphur solution, mixing 1 gallon of the spray 
with 11, 10, or-even 9 gallons of water, applying the 
spray warm when the trees are dormant, before ever a 
sign of greenness appears. The spray must be thrown 
on to the trees with some sort of a force-pump, and 
must be made as fine as mist. It is of the utmost 
importance that each tree be sprayed thoroughly, every 
twig and branch being well covered all over. If not 
done with perfect thoroughness, spraying fails of its 
object, and might as well be left alone. 
Immediately this spraying is finished, be sure to rake 
carefully together all the prunings—that is, the twigs and 
branches which have been cut off in pruning—and burn 
them. 56 
