Spraying of Fruit Trees. 



3 



For fungoid attacks Bordeaux mixture is sprayed over 

 fruit trees to destroy the spores of scab fungus and other 

 injurious fungi. This is made with 8 lbs. of sulphate of 

 copper and 8 lbs. of quicklime mixed well together with 

 ioo gallons of water. Very often Paris Green is added to 

 the sulphate of copper solution in order to kill caterpillars 

 and other insects. In the early spring, before the buds begin 

 to open, American growers spray fruit trees with a mixture 

 of 6 lbs. of sulphate of copper in ioo gallons of water to kill 

 the spores of fungi causing scab, rot, etc., and when the 

 blossoms have fallen a much more diluted solution is used, 

 made with Jib. to Jib. of sulphate of copper to ioo gallons 

 of water. 



A mixture that is much in use in America and Canada for 

 cleansing fruit trees is made by dissolving ih lbs. to 2 lbs. of 

 crude potash in three gallons of water. This is sprayed all 

 over the trees in the late autumn or winter. 



There are in America numerous varieties of machines for 

 distributing insecticides and fungicides ; but they do not 

 appear to be more serviceable than some of those in use in 

 this country. The objects desired are light and speedy 

 draught, greatly economised space, strong pumps, and easy 

 adaptation to variations in width of planting, and the size of 

 trees. There is not much difficulty in getting suitable 

 machines. The perfect distribution of the dressing depends, 

 however, more on the nozzles employed, of which there is also 

 a large variety. Mr. Lodeman, who has written exhaustively 

 on this subject*, gives an admirable definition of the best 

 spray nozzle, so far as efficiency, simplicity, and cheapness 

 are concerned, viz., " the end of a hose and a man's thumb." 

 He adds, " Unfortunately the thumb gets sore and tired , 

 and operations must be suspended to wait for repairs. It. 

 is the nearest approach to the ideal nozzle yet devised 

 if it were only more practicable. It will do what a 

 good nozzle should do. It throws a fine mist -like 

 spray, one that ' will float in the air like a fog,' or the 



* The Spraying of Plants, a succinct account of the history, principles, and 

 practices of the application of liquids and powders to plants for the purpose of 

 destroying insects or fungi, by L. G. Lodeman, Instructor in Horticulture in the 

 Cornell University, U.S.A. (Macmillan and Co.) 



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