192 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



January, 19 16 



ciation, with broader scope, so as to provide 

 for a possible future need of other coopera- 

 tive improvements, elected five trustees 

 for the first year and a managing committee 

 of three in charge of the practical active 

 work and from a study of the accounts, 

 arrived at a charge basis for the outfit and 

 labor-crew, of $2.50 an hour and material 

 at 25 cents per gallon, which of course, is 

 a much cheaper ratio than the individual 

 could achieve and at the same time, it 

 covers all costs, labor, storage, insurance, 

 and maintenance and also provides a proper 

 percentage for a sinking fund to care for 

 depreciation. 



This charge ratio will bring the tree 

 spraying where the conditions are most 

 favorable at something 

 under 7 cents a tree and 

 under the worst condi- 

 tions, at something more 

 than 40 cents a tree, and 

 seems to be satisfactory 

 to all of us. 



On account of the long 

 hauls, bad hills, and gen- 

 eral physical conditions of 

 the country, we limited 

 our own territory to a 

 strip about two and a half 

 miles wide and about five 

 or six miles long and this 

 we easily handled with the 

 two machines, during the 

 short time in which the 

 first spraying could be 

 done. 



Later, when necessary, 

 we used the other solu- 

 tions and sprayed for the 

 canker worm, codling 

 moth, and Elm beetle. 

 In May we sprayed at 

 least two hundred Elms. 

 So great was the in- 

 terest in this movement, 

 that no sooner was the first 

 meeting over and the preliminary steps 

 taken, than everyone at once began the 

 preparatory trimming and pruning of trees, 

 to get the greatest benefits from the spray- 

 ing to follow and orchards, indifferently 

 cared for before, began to show the acme 

 of scientific care. 



Some of the orchards had not been trim- 

 med in years, the trees were old and a per- 

 fect network of branches and brush waited 

 for the pruning knives and saw. In some 

 cases heroic measures were taken and 

 doomed trees were topped back in pretty 

 radical style, with the full knowledge that 

 it was a case of either kill or cure. 



One farmer who had steadily refused to 

 join the association and claimed to be able 

 to care for his trees with his own spraying 

 outfit after many ineffectual attempts to 

 stem the ravages of the successive attacks 

 upon his fruit and shade trees finally suc- 

 combed and telephoned our superintendent 

 offering him double our charge to members 

 for us to do his work for him. Needless 

 to say we cheerfully did the work and did 

 not charge him double either. 



It is most difficult in rural communities 

 of just this kind, to secure any kind of 

 modern treatment of trees and land with- 

 out a very large and generally prohibitive 

 expense and hence to prove that it can be 

 done reasonably and in a business-like 

 manner, may lead other localities to make 

 similar investments. 



On September 4th the subscribers to the 

 association gathered in the School House to 

 hear the reports of the active managing 

 committee and of the treasurer and it was 

 with a feeling of pride that they finally 

 dispersed with the knowledge that not 

 only were visible results which had greeted 

 the community during the summer in the 

 form of well kept orchards and beautiful 



At the close of the third season we charged 

 off another 10 per cent, to the depreciation 

 sinking fund and the Treasurer's report 

 was as follows: 



CREDIT 



By cash balance on hand . 

 By operating profit for year 



$108.90 

 79-45 



$188. 3S 



DEBTOR 



27.61 

 I3.OO 



The spraying outfit was conveniently assembled with a folding "tower" 



place was easy 



foliage fully confirmed by the former's 

 report but the financial success was as 

 unqualifiedly proven by the following 

 statement from the Treasurer. 



Cash subscriptions 



$470.00 



Sundries 



■25 



Balance net profit on operat- 





ing 



107.15 





$577-40 



CREDIT 





Cost of two complete spraying 





outfits 



$487.62 



Insurance, postage and sun- 





dries 



22.65 



Cash in bank 



41 . 16 



Account received $38.12 





Less credit for partial 





operating expenses . 12.15 



25-97 



$577-40 



The second year was equally successful 

 and we were able to make a slight reduction 

 cost to members and also to charge off 

 $97.52 to depreciation or about 20 per cent, 

 of the original plant cost. 



To maintenance and repairs .... 



To insurance, postage, and sundries 



To cash in bank 147-74 



$188.35 



We have found that $25 is the average 

 cost of maintenance and repairs and this 

 careful upkeep has appar- 

 ently kept the plant in 

 practically its original con- 

 dition and good for many 

 years to come. 



It was a pathetic sight 

 which the poor orchards 

 presented the summer be- 

 fore with the foliage brown 

 and crumbling, after the 

 ravages of the tent cater- 

 pillar and yet, but for this 

 blight and its immediate 

 visual result, I believe 

 such a united and prompt 

 effort at protection would 

 have been improbable, if 

 not altogether impossible. 



[The individual, organ- 

 ization, or cummunity that 

 is stimulated by the above 

 account to "go and do 

 likewise" may welcome a 

 few suggestions as to the 

 necessary materials and 

 their preparations. For 

 winter spraying both scale 

 and fungus diseases, either 

 self-boiled (home made) 

 where smaller quantities 

 concentrated commercial 

 preparation will do the business. 



To make the former, start 8 pounds of 

 fresh lime slaking, sift and stir in 8 pounds 

 of fine sulphur, and let boil (by its own heat) 

 for fifteen minutes, adding enough water 

 to just prevent burning. Then dilute with 

 the remaining water and apply promptly. 

 The commercial article needs merely dilu- 

 tion, in winter with nine parts, and in sum- 

 mer with about thirty parts, of water. 



As soon as the buds start in spring, 

 arsenate of lead may well be added to 

 destroy the codling moth, etc., at the rate 

 of 3 pounds of paste, or i| pounds of pow- 

 der, to 50 gallons of the lime-sulphur mixture. 

 The same strength is used for spraying elms 

 when water replaces the lime-sulphur. 



There are now offered, under various 

 trade names, several preparations very 

 similar in nature and action to the above. 

 It will pay the orchardist and gardener to 

 look them up, remembering simply to 

 ascertain the kind and special adaptation 

 of each before buying. — Editor.] 



so that movement from place to 



lime-sulphur or, 

 are needed, the 



