ARE YOU INSURED? 



Protective Value of Winter Spraying While Growth is Yet Dormant 



|T IS not so very long ago that spraying was the big 

 bugaboo to the average gardener who was assaulted 

 by "tables" and "calendars" and "formulas" for 

 home preparation. On the idea that for "every evil 

 under the sun there be a remedy, or there be none" as the 

 old saw has it, our good scientifically bent men proceeded to 

 prove the fact by producing a bewildering array of remedies 

 — one for almost each evil ! Then came a change ! And now 

 instead of awaiting the attack of the enemy, we have learned 

 how to give protection, by applying one general spray earlier 

 in the season. As to the propriety of, and need for, spray- 

 ing there is no need for argument to-day. 



Lime-sulphur or miscible oils sprayed generally on trees 

 and shrubs during winter have been found to be a practical 

 general prophylactic, and not expensive either. We used to 

 be bothered with home mixing or home boiling, but even that 

 is unnecessary now for there are manufactured concentrated 

 preparations to be had that need only dilution and a proper 

 spray pump for use. Frankly it does not pay nowadays to 

 make these spray mixtures at home — to say not a word about 

 the uncertainty of the product. 



As to which is the more desirable spray; that is largely a 

 matter of personal preference. The miscible oils are more 



concentrated, stand greater dilution and are therefore less 

 bulky in shipment. They do not wash off with rains. Lime- 

 sulphur leaves convincing evidence of its presence and so 

 makes it easy to be assured of a thorough job. It hangs a 

 long time on the bark and is easy to apply. It has the ad- 

 vantage of attacking some fungous diseases as well as insects 

 and particularly leaf curl of a peach. The oils usually come 

 ready to mix at the rate of one gallon to ten or fifteen gallons 

 of water and the lime-sulphur will take about eight gallons 

 of water to one gallon. 



One thorough spraying each year should be sufficient in- 

 surance under all ordinary conditions but that one spraying 

 must be a thorough one and every part of the plant must be 

 covered. Spraying can be done at any time during the dor- 

 mant season except when the weather is actually freezing and 

 there are plenty of days during the winter or before growth 

 starts that afford the opportunity. 



By all means get a practical spray pump; not a toy. For 

 the medium-sized garden a mounted spray pump on wheels 

 would be a good investment but for the very small garden 

 with a home vegetable plot something of the knapsack or 

 other portable type to be slung over the shoulders will 

 suffice. 



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