FRUIT GROWING 309 



Dissolve a half pound of laundry soap in one gallon 

 of boiling rain water. Remove from the fire and add 

 two gallons of kerosene. Churn, or mix violently, until 

 you have a light, creamy mixture. Dilute this mixture 

 with from twenty to twenty-five times as much water for 

 plants in full leaf. 



Fungous Diseases. — We have already studied at some 

 length in Section 98 how the spores of disease are spread 

 and how they may be controlled. With nearly all fruits, 

 it is best to apply a spray of Bordeaux mixture or lime- 

 sulfur just before the leaves expand. Another applica- 

 tion, with lead arsenate added, should be made just after 

 the petals have fallen from the blossoms. One or more 

 applications of this spray may be necessary during the 

 growing season if insects or diseases are feared. 



One ought not to try to remember all of the sprays and 

 when to apply them, but to keep in the bookcase instead, 

 one of the government or state bulletins, which gives the 

 whole spraying schedule. These bulletins can be had for 

 the asking. 



231. Gathering and Storing the Fruit. — Now that we 

 have assisted in the formation of fruit buds, have kept 

 away the rabbits and mice during the winter, have pro- 

 tected the developing blossoms and fruit from the danger 

 of spring frosts, and have brought them unharmed past 

 the strongholds of their enemies, insects and diseases, we 

 have a right to expect as our reward luscious, mellow, fra- 

 grant fruit; and whether we expect to eat it soon after 

 gathering, or to store it away to eat in the long winter 

 evenings as we are gathered about the fire, we must 

 exercise care in harvesting it. 



Three rules, which need no explanation, should be ob- 

 served at picking time : 



