284 



GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



Practical Suggestions to Fruit Growers. 



The following suggestions in the annual report of the Secretary for Agriculture, 

 Nova Scotia, are especially deserving the attention of fruit growers in the United 



Kingdom : 



I. Upon Insects 



Practically all the applications which are made to destroy insects are designed 

 to act in one of two ways. The substance may be destined to enter the digestive 

 system of the insect and thus cause death, just as many poisons cause death when 

 taken into the stomachs of the higher animals. This method is by far the cheapest, 

 and when possible it is advisable to make use of it. 



The second method does not consist in putting poison on the food of the insect, 

 but the material is put directly upon the insect itself. It then causes death either 

 by stopping up the breathing pores, or it penetrates the outer coverings and so 

 enters the body directly. This method cannot be used with success against all 

 insects, as some have very tough and dense coverings which are not readily pene- 

 trated by any material that we can use for the purpose. Beetles, for example, can 

 scarcely be dectroyed in this manner. But all soft-bodied insects, such as aphides, 

 and caterpillars, yield readily to the treatment if sufficient material comes in contact 

 with their bodies. 



This method of killing insects by means of substance which causes death merely 

 by penetrating the creature's body is rather expensive, and it is resorted to only 

 when the pest cannot be treated by poisoning its food. It thus comes that most 

 grubs and caterpillars are destroyed by means of poisons which are eaten, though 

 they yield to the other treatment equally well. 



The food of many insects, however, cannot be poisoned since they feed upon 

 the juice of plants and do not eat the external coverings. It is fortunate that 

 most of these insects have soft bodies, so that they yield readily to treatment if the 

 poison comes in contact with them. Their mouth parts are formed for penetrat- 

 ing the external coverings of plants to a depth sufficient to reach the sap ; just as 

 the mosquitoes' bills are in the habit of penetrating human kind. All aphides 

 belong to this class, as well as the true bugs, these having mouth parts which are 

 adapted to suck, but not chew. The utter uselessness of covering a plant with 

 poisons to protect it from these pests will readily be seen. The insect's beak will 

 penetrate this poisonous layer and it will take no food until the beak has passed 

 the limit of the poison and is deeply buried in the tissues of the plant. 

 From the above it will be seen that — 



(a) To destroy chewing insects, such as the caterpillars of the winter moth, 

 poison must be evenly distributed over those parts upon which the insects feed, 

 and this may in some cases be done even before the insect is present, or is visible! 

 Only those poisons which cause death after eaten should be used. 



(6) To destroy sucking insects, such as plant lice, the materials must be distri- 

 buted upon the insects as evenly as possible, and it is useless to make any applica- 

 tion before the insect has appeared. Only those poisons which kill by coming in 

 contact with the insect's body should be used. 



First determine what kind of a pest it is that needs treatment, then select the 

 proper material. 



II. Upon Fungi. 



Among the fungi we find many enemies. It is difficult to tell just what a 

 fungus is, but some of the principal characteristics may be mentioned. A fungus 

 is a plant ; but, unlike flowering plants, it possesses no chlorophyll. Chlorophyll 

 is the green-coloured protoplasm found in flowering plants, and it is the only 

 substance we know through which plants change crude food to nutritive material. 

 We must conclude, therefore, that fungi do not prepare their own food, but feed 

 upon organic matter, which is already adapted to their wants. They possess no 

 leaves, flowers, or seeds. That part of any fungus which is of most interest to 

 the horticulturist is composed of long, fine threads, are known as hyphae, and 

 collectively they form the mycellium or vegetative portion of the fungus. The 

 mycelium corresponds to the roots and stems of flowering plants. 



Spores, which are organs performing the same office as the seeds of flowering 

 plants, are produced by this mycelium either directly, or upon branches (some- 

 times called sporophores) which are thrown out. These sporophores cause the 

 white downy appearance seen upon grape leaves affected with the downy mildew. 



s P ore . strictly speaking, is not a seed, for a seed contains a young plant, while 

 a spore does not, being usually composed of only one cell. If a spore finds the 

 proper conditions of heat and moisture it will germinate and send out a fine 

 filament, which, if nourished, eventually produces a plant like the original. 



Most fungi in the north produce two kind of spores, known as the summer 

 and winter spores. The summer spores are usually borne upon the exterior of the 

 nost-piant, or the plant on which the fungus grows. These spores ripen quickly 

 and propagate the fungus rapidly. But if they do not germinate soon after ripening 

 they lose heir vitality. The winter spores are usually produced within the tissues 

 of the host plant, commonly in the leaves and fruit. They are the spores which 

 Jive through the winter ; but in the spring, under favourable circumstances, they 

 germinate, and thus the fungus is again developed. Fungi may be divided into 

 two general classes : those growing upon dead and decaying matter, or saprophytes ; 

 mose ceding upon living tissues, or parasites. By far the larger portion possessing 

 interest to the horticulturist belong to the latter class, for in this are included the 

 fungi which do so much injury to cultivated plants. 



; m Jr ► , parasitlc {an & d o not attack the host-plant in the same manner. Some 

 immediately penetrate into the interior tissue, and there they flourish, being well 



I.? ° Uter influen <*s by the exterior covering of the plant. The fungi 

 SHL > 1 m °i- e serious disease s develop in this manner and, in fact, the vast 

 eve ° in wwSffk u T eS r ate cattsed b y such organisms. There are others, how- 

 Plant onlv V«5 Y - ° f , the fun S us is a,most entirel y u P on the surface of the host • iniu 



to obkin LuS Wnt T y h SmaU DUmber ° f threads F**"®* the tissues in order ma y 

 has been verv "SSS \k P*»»tes can be rubbed off, and unless the attack weig 



class may for conv^ni'J, i greeD ' health y tissue wiU ^ underneath. This shoi 

 those which grow wi hk lth?h ^ d " mt6ux " 5 t0 distin g uish them from Soft 



gooseberry 



*tment which" ma °v S ™™*«>*& ™st form the basis 

 rasitic funrf Z^^*°g*> ¥** certain stage 



be applied ^3iSE*ZE?** 



the host- plant it cannot be reached « 

 affected nhcH «,k:-u T reacn «l « 



fungus 



unless 



lot be allowed to germinate. Al 

 since a cure is practically impossit, 

 grows upon the surface of the host. 



applica 



ApR1L 30, 1898. 



The line of treatment indicated is this : To cover th 

 cultivated plant with some substance that will destrov !t. Stems 1111(1 foliage of th e 

 present, as soon as they germinate, or with one that will h Sp °S: S Which mav be 

 venting this germination. If that is done the plant will • U e P ower of Pre- 

 fungi are concerned ; otherwise it will not, unless bLd T 0 ? ,hy ' 80 ^ * 

 several substances which destroy these spores as „ .? hmgus att acks it 

 already been found They are easily applfed, safe, S«^"£rJ^ hav e 

 who suffers his fruit to be ruined by these parasites is « a ,, 1 a an ^ g ro »er, 

 loss, for means of destrovine the nest* a ,« of u:. ' ruie > _ deserving of hie 



— — — " O MT * — 



the ones who are reaping the rewards. 



" l " c ". cia - Spraying 

 recognise this fact are 



Machinery 



The best spray nozzle, so far as efficiency, simplicity, and cheapness are , 

 cerned, is the end of a hose and a man's thumb. Unfortunately thl . fu I 

 sore and tired, and operations must be suspended to wait for repairs 

 nearest approach to the ideal nozzle yet devised if it ™i s toe 



It will do all that a good nozzle should d > It ^^^^5^ 

 that will "float in the air like fog/; or the part^f^ 



place instantly (after a little practice), and it makes no ifibSj^tte™ 

 to be sprayed are a few inches or many feet away. This nozzle never cC 

 but is cleaned automatically, and as quickly as the character of spray ^ 

 varied. In fact it possesses all the desirable qualities of a spray nozzle exce* 

 durability, and for this we must turn to the metals for aid. P 



All operators do not desire the same kind of spray even for the same kind of 

 work. It is commonly said that the best spray is one which most nearly resembl* 

 a fog. This is true so far as the spray is concerned, but the trouble comes in 

 applying it. A fine spray cannot be applied so advantageously us a coarser one 

 nor can it be applied so rapidly for the reason that the finer the spray the less 

 liquid is thrown, and the smaller the area treated. Whenever the wind blows a 

 fog-like spray will go wherever the wind carries it, and not where the operator 

 directs it. Sometimes this will be an advantage. It is especially so when the 

 wind is blowing in the right direction. Yet when the other side of the tree is 

 being treated the wind will come from the wrong direction, and much of the 

 material is blown where it is not wanted. In addition to this, the work is more 

 slowly performed, and whether it is more thoroughly done than when a coarser 

 spray is well used is still open to doubt. After having tried both kinds of sprays, 

 it appears to the writer that if the parts to be treated are close by, a fine spray is to 

 be preferred, as then there is less waste and an even application may be made. If 

 the parts to be treated are more removed, being situated from ten to twenty-five 

 feet away, a coarser spray is wanted— the more distant the object, the coarser the 

 spray. The work can thus be done much more rapidly, just as effectually (with 

 the exception of some waste), and much more satisfactorily, than by the use of t 

 fine spray. In case a fine spray is used, it is necessary to haveia pole to carry the 

 nozzle to the different parts of the tree, and this is as tedious as it is unpleasant. 

 When a coarser spray is made, there is generally formed enough of the finer spray 

 to float in the air and protect parts which arejiot directly reached by the operator. 



The finest sprays are produced by the eddy-chamber nozzles, and by those in 

 which two streams of water strike each other at an angle. With such notxlei 

 spray can be made as fine as desired, the size of the outlet orifice being the main 

 controlling factor. For long distance work, when the liquid is to be carried ten 

 feet or more, the best spray is formed when the fluid is forced through two flat 

 parellel metal surfaces. The greater the pressure, the greater will be the amount 

 of fine spray and the farther will it be thrown. Although the ideal nozzle has no: 

 yet been made in metal, some of the forms now sold are approaching perfection. 



All good spray machinery is expensive, and only careless operators will neglect 

 ordinary methods of preserving it as long as possible. When the pump hai 

 been used in applying any of the preparations with the exception of clear water, 

 it should be cleaned. No insecticide or fungicide should be allowed to stand 

 within the pump, but clear water should be pumped through it before it is put 

 away. It is well to oil all the working parts occasionally, as a little oil at times 

 may prevent the metal from being cut, and the pump will be thus preserved much 

 longer than otherwise. Nozzles are also benefited by the same treatment. 

 can scarcely be used too freely on the inside of such apparatus, and an occasio^ 

 coat of paint on the outside will assist materially in protecting the metal. 

 careless man pays dearly for nis neglect. 



the 



The 

 of Prof 

 Wolfvill 



Spraying Fruit Trees. 



» — — * 



ir t iculture. 



Wolfville:— \ - ' 



No feature in fruit growing should be more thoroughly understood than tha i 

 spraying properly with insecticides and fungicides, for by judicious work ne< w 

 is protected, it becomes cleaner, markets at a higher price, and ^ often tim 

 crop is saved, especially during the favourable seasons for insects ana n™ 

 growths. To spray in season should be one of the chief aims o 



operator. 



which are nf two kinds : first, those that chew their food ; set - _ 



juices. The former may be destroyed by poison eaten with food- ^ 

 moth, bud moth, cankerworm, and insects of that character, use the n ^ 

 mixture : i lb. Paris green, 200 gallons water. Stir the mixture while J ^ ^ 

 as the greater portion of the poison does not go into solution, thu * **doo3«!* 



■ This strength is suited to nearly all foliage. I/ma £ ^ 

 d of Paris green, but it is more caustic, an d aW«^ 

 Id be added Trees affected with the [folio*' 

 early in the season with the alkaline :wash made ^j, 



rt-l . " x soda ' made to the consistency of paint, applied n* ^ 



the tree. In Mav or t. — th* bark louse is hatching^ ^ '^p 



violently •J 



ucking «*2 

 diseases sfW 

 latm* 



insect* 

 ocke 



oil 



, n " "■■fa a «ua, iiia.UC 10 inc tUliaiat^**^ ~- 1 >, 



the tree. In May or early June, when the bark louse is J 

 kerosene emulsion made as follows : 2 gals, kerosene, I gal. 

 Dissolve the soap in the water bv boiling, add kerosene, and 



> cabbag 



is wmuv/u — - 

 currant worms, &c. 



■ 



combined insecticide and fungicide as follows : 4 gVgZJ. " Sphate either 

 (quick), 4 ox. Paris green, e.o safa water. Dissolve the *3gZ££. m about *J 



is 



. -- — — w-mub rtuu mngiciae as ioj 

 iqmck), 4 oz. Paris green, 50 gals, water. "j r h a nfnnc ' n 3 



warm water or by placing in a bag of coarse cloth, and hang «* rf m 

 gallons of water to dissolve. SWwhe lime in four or five fW» • ^ & 



***** teti!XS&*% 



coarse 



remainder of the water. 



When 



