72 
SPRAYING 
Spray tborouglUy and at the right time. If you expect to get perfect fruit. 
Spraying Fruit Trees 
Spraying is more effective as a preventive than as a cure. Prevention 
is always the cheapest, but, to be effective, it must be applied before the 
trees are badly damaged by the insects or fungous diseases. Success in 
spraying depends on promptness, thoroughness, persistence, and knowl- 
edge of what you are doing. It is not always a pleasant task, but it is 
necessary to produce the high-class fruit which brings big prices. 
Do not allow any diseased trees to remain on your place. They are a 
constant source of infection. Encourage your neighbors to spray also. 
The example of your success will teach them that it is profitable. How- 
ever, do not become dissatisfied if you do not always get the results you 
think you should. If you fail, there is a reason for it, and it will pay you 
to look around and find out what that reason is. Also, spraying is not 
a cure-all. When an orchard is old and has been neglected, it is necessary 
that it be brought into jsroper shape by pruning, cultivating and fertil- 
izing the land. (For building up fertility of land, see page 21.) 
Become familiar with the habits of the insects or fungous disease 
which you are fighting, giving special attention to the way they affect 
your trees under your own conditions. Climate has an influence and 
should be taken into consideration. In the West the hot days of middle 
summer drive the aphis from the trees. It would be useless to spray for 
