1892 
121 
THE  RURAL  NEW-YORKER. 
Western  New  York  Horticultural 
Society. 
GREAT  BENEFITS  FROM  SPRAYING. 
President  Barry  in  his  address  said :  “  Judicious 
efforts  will  enable  us  to  produce  new  fruits  surpassing 
all  previous  introductions  in  size,  appearance  and  qual¬ 
ity  ;  and  new  flowers  exceeding  in  beauty  and  attrac¬ 
tiveness  anything  yet  known.  The  first  and  last  thing 
for  a  farmer  to  do,  is  to  find  out  what  his  land  needs. 
No  use  for  him  to  buy  all  the  fertilizing  elements 
when  only  one  or  two  are  needed. 
Until  recently  doubts  have  been  expressed  as  to  the 
efficiency  of  spraying  fruit  trees,  but  this  year’s  tests 
have  satisfied  the  most  incredulous  that  there  is  merit 
in  the  operation.  The  codling  moth,  the  bud  moth, 
canker-worm,  tent-caterpillar,  curculio,  as  well  as  the 
apple  scab  fungus,  mildews  of  different  kinds  and  the 
various  grape  diseases  can  all  be  controlled,  if  not  pre¬ 
vented,  by  applying  the  proper  remedies.  The  great 
excitement  caused  by  the  New  York  Board  of  Health, 
last  summer,  in  regard  to  spraying  grapes,  caused 
great  loss  to  growers  and,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  was 
unwarranted.  Only  the  faintest  trace  of  copper  was 
found  by  analysis,  and  it  could  never  have  done  any 
injury  ;  but  the  outcome  proves  the  importance  of 
spraying  with  great  car  e  and  following  the  instruc¬ 
tions  given  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Wash¬ 
ington. 
Prof.  Fairchild,  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture, 
said,  in  his  paper  on  the  “  Toxicology  of  the  Copper 
Compounds  when  Applied  as  Fungicides,”  that  copper 
is  excluded  by  Boards  of  Health  from  foods  as  in¬ 
jurious;  but  after  a  seven  months’  discussion  by  learned 
scientific  physicians  in  a  convention  held  in  Germany, 
the  verdict  was,  “  Not  necessarily.”  No  example 
showing  fatal  effects  could  be  proved.  It  was  fed  to 
cattle  on  hay.  All  marls,  all  famous  mineral  springs, 
as  well  as  the  liver,  kidneys  and  all  foods  contain 
copper.  Laborers  in  copper  mines  are  rarely  sick. 
The  copper  present  on  grapes  sprayed  seven  times, 
commencing  July  15,  with  the  Bordeaux  Mixture,  was 
from  a  trace  to  one-fifth  of  a  grain  per  pound  of 
grapes.  The  mixture  need  not  be  more  than  one-third 
of  the  strength  usually  applied.  Begin  the  treatment 
early,  and,  later  use  the  ammoniacal  mixture  to  assist 
the  rain  in  washing  away  the  former.  Trees  treated 
with  the  Bordeaux  Mixture  gave  42  per  cent  better 
fruit,  and  with  copper  acetate  28  per  cent,  while 
chloride  of  lime  gave  fruit  20  per  cent  poorer  when 
used  on  quinces.  The  leaves  dropped  early  take  fer¬ 
tility  with  them  and  leave  the  tree  enfeebled. 
Prof.  T.  T.  Van  Slyke,  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  speaking 
of  the  “  results  of  analyses  of  some  substances  used  in 
spraying  ”  said  that  sulphate  of  copper  was  mostly 
pure,  while  copper  carbonate  varied  considerably, 
some  being  adulterated  to  a  great  extent,  so  that  it 
should  always  be  tested.  Copperdine  costs  twice  as 
much  as  it  should,  and  is  somewhat  adulterated. 
Fruit  growers  who  use  large  quantities  might  with 
economy  prepare  their  own  fungicides.  To  test  copper 
sulphate,  put  it  in  warm  water  where  it  should  become 
dissolved,  and  copper  carbonate  is  soluble  in  nitric 
acid  or  strong  ammonia  water.  In  many  cases  after 
he  had  found  that  advertised  preparations  were  badly 
adulterated,  he  had  seen  testimonials  from  persons 
who  had  used  them,  which  called  them  the  “  salt  of 
the  earth.”  Probably  those  people  received  free 
samples  and  felt  compelled  to  recommend  them  or 
keep  silent.  In  order  to  get  a  tonic  dose  of  copper 
sulphate  from  sprayed  grapes  (as  much  as  a  physician 
would  recommend  for  a  tonic  dose)  a  person  would 
have  to  eat  8  to  10  pounds  of  grapes,  skins  and  all.  To 
get  a  dangerous  dose  one  must  dispose  'of  many 
thousands  of  pounds,  which  would  be  more  dangerous 
than  the  copper. 
Prof.  Craig,  of  the  Horticultural  Experiment  Farm, 
Ottawa,  Canada,  showed  a  chart  which  gave  the  per 
cent  of  salable  fruit  from  trees  which  had  been  sprayed 
with  the  Bordeaux  Mixture,  to  which  had  been  added 
Paris-green.  The  gain  was  very  marked,  as  the  cod¬ 
ling  moth  and  the  apple  scab  fungus  can  be  treated 
at  one  application  of  such  a  mixture.  Prof.  Van 
Deman,  of  the  Agricultural  Department,  urged  that 
Paris-green  should  not  be  used  in  these  solutions  while 
the  trees  were  in  full  bloom,  as  the  bees  would  be  in¬ 
jured.  C.  H.  Perkins,  of  Newark,  called  attention  to 
an  article  that  is  being  widely  printed  in  Germany, 
France  and  Great  Britain,  to  the  effect  that  American 
imported  fruit  contains  poison,  in  the  form  of  arsenic 
sprayed  on  the  trees  while  the  fruit  was  growing. 
The  effect  was  a  growing  prejudice  not  only  against 
barreled  apples,  but  against  evaporated  apples  also, 
which  is  seriously  affecting  the  price.  The  charge  he 
declared  to  be  false,  and  the  attention  of  Secretary 
Rusk  was  called  to  it  by  a  resolution.  Prof.  Van 
Deman  said  he  was  sure  the  accusation  would  receive 
prompt  attention  and  that  our  consuls  would  be  in¬ 
structed  to  explain  the  matter  fully  to  the  buyers. 
Prof.  Beach  spoke  on  some  fungous  diseases  of  the 
apple.  Powdery  mildew  attacks  both  sides  of  the 
leaf,  absorbing  the  juices.  There  are  two  crops  of 
spores  by  which  the  disease  is  spread.  Use  the  Bor¬ 
deaux  Mixture.  The  apple  scab  fungus  is  developed 
in  cold,  moist  weather.  It  gives  a  velvety  appearance 
to  the  fruit.  Spraying  with  Paris-green  had  given 
good  results.  The  apple  rust  and  bitter  rot  are  propa¬ 
gated  by  spores.  The  rust  eats  out  the  substance  of 
the  leaf,  leaving  only  the  thread  tissue,  and  causes 
what  is  known  as  “cedar  apples”  on  “cedar  trees.” 
Spraying  has  no  effect  on  it.  Gooseberry  mildew  can 
be  perfectly  controlled  at  Geneva,  N.  Y.  Spray  when 
the  leaves  are  unfolding  and,  in  the  absence  of  rain, 
again  in  three  weeks — one  ounce  to  a  gallon  of  water. 
The  cost  is  one  cent  for  25  bushes.  The  Industry  and 
Wellington  Glory  are  the  best  varieties.  Black  knot 
on  plum  and  cherry  will  destroy  the  business  of  raising 
them,  unless  the  disease  is  extirpated  by  the  govern¬ 
ment.  Insects  are  frequently  found  in  the  affected 
parts,  but  they  are  not  the  cause.  On  the  first  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  malady,  the  tissues  swell.  Then  cut  down 
far  enough  to  be  sure  of  getting  all  of  the  affected 
part;  clear  out  wild  cherries  and  plums.  Growers 
do  not  realize  the  danger.  There  should  be  a 
law  compelling  owners  to  cut  out  affected  trees. 
George  T.  Powell  said  the  disease  had  destroyed  the 
plum  industry  of  the  Hudson  River  Valley.  Ills  whole 
orch  ird  of  plum  trefes  was  destroyed  in  one  season  by 
black  knot,  which  had  spread  from  a  neighboring 
hedge  row.  In  California  the  law  compels  the  posting 
of  warnings  where  the  disease  exists.  The  affected 
trees  must  be  removed.  The  legislature  is  to  be  asked 
to  enact  a  similar  law. 
“  How  to  Obtain  more  High-grade  Fruit,”  by  Geo.  T 
Powell,  Director  of  the  New  York  State  institutes,  was 
an  interesting,  instructive  lecture.  Perfect  foliage  is 
necessary  for  the  production  of  high-grade  fruit.  The 
life-giving  leaves  of  a  tree  should  not  be  checked  in 
their  action  by  blight  or  their  usefulness  destroyed  by 
insects.  With  healthy  trees,  sound,  long-keeping  fruit 
is  possible..  Since  he  had  begun  spraying  there  had 
been  no  loss  from  rotting  among  the  apples  he  exported. 
Many  people  hold  that  the  variety  of  apple  which 
brings  the  money  should  be  grown.  Some  fair-looking 
varieties  sell  well  once  or  twice  ;  but  they  do  not  make 
or  hold  a  market.  The  speaker  illustrated  the  point 
by  showing  an  apple  of  the  Jonathan  variety  so  beau¬ 
tifully  colored  as  to  be  almost  irresistible  to  the  eye, 
and  it  is  of  equally  fine  flavor.  Such  fruit  will  sell 
anywhere  at  a  good  price.  Color  is  obtained  by  a 
system  of  trimming,  which  exposes  the  fruit  to  the  sun. 
The  orchard  should  be  well  drained.  Trees  with  wet 
feet  cannot  do  well.  Give  thorough  preparation  of  the 
soil  by  plowing  clover  sod  and  planting  hoed  crops. 
Buy  of  known  nurserymen.  Trim  so  that  the  limbs 
will  not  start  opposite  each  other,  for  then  the  tree 
would  be  likely  to  split  down  when  older.  Trim  all 
bruised  roots ;  cut  them  with  a  slanting  cut  on  the 
under  side  so  that  the  cut  side  will  lie  fiat  on  the  earth. 
Fine  rootlets  will  start  from  these  cuts.  Trim  early 
and  often,  a  bud  here  and  a  branch  there.  Nothing 
more  than  a  knife  need  be  used  for  the  next  10  years 
if  used  in  time. 
Prof.  Roberts  of  Cornell,  spoke  on  “  Methods  of 
Improving  and  Maintaining  the  Fertility  of  Orchards.” 
In  most  cases  there  is  more  fertility  already  in  the  soil 
than  is  needed  for  the  trees.  Many  young  orchards 
have  been  ruined  by  the  too  frequent  use  of  manure. 
It  is  not  fertilizers  to  increase  the  richness  of  the  soil, 
but  proper  treatment  to  bring  out  the  fertility  already 
existing  there,  that  is  needed.  The  land  should  be  dry; 
if  very  wet  it  should  be  underdrained.  Unless  the  soil 
is  of  a  peculiar  nature,  plow  deep  and  often  for  a  year 
or  two  before  setting.  Trees  should  be  trimmed. 
Horticulturists  should  draw  a  sharp  line  between  fruit¬ 
growing  and  forestry  ;  should  economize  on  the  fer¬ 
tility  of  the  orchard  and  not  grow  any  more  trees  than 
necessary.  A  grape  vine  in  his  grandfather’s  yard 
was  never  trimmed,  covered  about  a  quarter  of  an 
acre,  and  he  never  saw  a  good  bunch  of  grapes  on  it. 
After  the  orchard  matures,  sheep  or  other  animals 
should  be  pastured  and  fed  in  it,  thereby  restoring  the 
food  elements  taken  by  the  producing  trees.  The 
orchardist  is  growing  too  much  wood,  too  many  seeds, 
too  many  inferior,  bad-flavored,  poorly-colored  apples. 
Sheep  are  the  best  insecticide  a  fruit  grower  could 
use.  Orchards  may  occasionally  need  manuring,  and 
high-grade  phosphates  may  be  beneficial. 
A  report  on  vegetables  was  made  by  L.  C.  Corbett 
of  Cornell.  Staminate  shoots  of  the  asparagus  are  larger 
and  earlier  by  33  per  cent  than  the  pistillate.  The 
Bush  Lima  is  good.  Peas  on  clay  soil  have  larger  vines 
and  their  season  is  longer.  Transplanting  onions  gives 
more  growth,  greater  uniformity,  and  earlier  ripening. 
The  Rural  trench  system  for  potatoes  was  highly  com. 
mended.  The  system  with  level  culture  conserves 
moisture.  The  land  is  better  prepared  and  less  labor 
is  needed  to  get  rid  of  the  weeds.  Nitrate  of  soda  gave 
good  results  when  used  on  tomatoes.  The  potato 
stalk  weevil  is  a  new  pest  whose  eggs  are  laid  in  the 
stalk.  The  only  remedy  yet  known  is  to  burn  the 
roots.  (I  do  not  see  how  one  can  do  that.) 
Bacteria  are  not  confined  to  any  one  family  of  vege¬ 
tables;  but  go  from  one  to  another.  The  potato  scab 
is,  according  to  Prof.  Fairchild,  a  fungous  disease  and 
no  diseased  tubers  should  ever  be  planted.  Ground 
filled  with  humus  accelerated  the  growth  of  the 
parasite. 
Prof.  A.  N.  Prentiss,  of  Cornell,  made  a  report  on  “A 
Year’s  Progress  in  Botany  in  its  Relation  to  Horticul¬ 
ture.”  These  subjects  cannot  be  separated  as  each 
aids  the  other.  We  must  have  a  life  history  of  fungi 
before  a  remedy  can  be  found.  In  case  of  all  plants  a 
prevention  is  better  than  a  remedy.  Give  favorable 
conditions  for  growth  and  development.  There  are 
over  100,000  varieties  of  flowering  plants  ;  but  few  are 
used.  The  most  important  addition  we  have  had  in 
many  years  is  the  tomato.  We  can  add  to  our  list  by 
importations  and  by  improving  our  own,  which  will 
give  the  greatest  value.  Are  seedless  fruits  as  good  as 
others  ?  The  banana,  Corinth  grape  and  pine  apple 
are  seedless.  Such  a  condition  would  be  of  great 
value  in  the  case  of  the  raspberry. 
Prof.  Craig  spoke  of  “Plant  Breeding.”  Canada  can 
grow  peaches,  and  one  grower  had  been  offered  $1,000 
for  his  crop.  He  is  crossing  varieties  to  produce  a 
cross  that  will  mature  in  the  Far  West.  A  cross  be¬ 
tween  the  Gregg  and  Cuthbert  has  the  Cuthbert  char¬ 
acteristics,  with  some  fine  berries.  A  cross  of  the 
Gregg  with  the  Snyder  Blackberry  gives  hardy  plants; 
but  so  far  the  fruit  is  worthless.  The  Shaffer  and 
Snyder  have  been  crossed.  The  Pearl  Gooseberry, 
which  excels  the  Downing  in  productiveness,  was 
crossed  with  the  black  currant.  The  foliage  of  these 
seedlings  varies  from  that  shown  in  the  perfect  goose¬ 
berry  leaves,  down  to  that  of  the  currant.  He  showed 
photographs  of  many  of  the  seedling  fruits. 
President  Barry  said  that  the  introducers  of  new 
fruits  are  seldom  remunerated  as  they  should  be,  but 
they  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  they  have 
benefited  their  fellow  men.  Their  names  will  be  re¬ 
membered  long  after  the  rest  of  their  associates  are 
forgotten. 
Secretary  Wolverton,  of  the  Ontario  Association, 
said  it  had  2,200  members,  a  result  largely  due  to  the 
fact  that  it  has  a  monthly  publication  in  which  the 
members  relate  their  experiences. 
L.  J.  Farmer  spoke  of  “Strawberries,  their  Care 
and  Culture.”  As  a  rule,  strawberry  growers  spread 
out— attempt  too  much.  Give  thorough  culture,  to 
clear  the  land  of  weeds,  before  setting  ;  manure  heavily 
and  cultivate  often.  On  sandy  loam  the  Warfield, 
Haverland,  Michel’s  Early,  Eureka,  Parker  Earle  and 
Burt  are  good.  The  Parker  Earle  is  a  very  promising 
variety.  Set  the  plants  out  in  rows,  which  should  vary 
with  the  variety.  He  had  seen  the  Eureka  12  feet  wide 
after  the  runners  had  set.  In  answer  to  the  question, 
“  What  new  variety  can  be  recommended  for  planters?” 
he  said  the  Parker  Earle  had  given  good  results.  The 
plants  sent  from  Texas  throve  as  well  as  those  that  he 
had  grown.  The  only  trouble  with  the  Yale  is  its  lack 
of  productiveness.  It  is  adapted  to  clay  soils.  It  is 
the  best  canning  berry  ever  introduced,  having  a  rich 
dark  color.  In  New  York  the  Eureka  sold  for  15  while 
the  Crescent  brought  5  cents.  He  thought  that 
knotty  berries  were  caused  by  imperfect  fertilization 
and  that  they  occurred  when  heavy  winds  prevailed  at 
the  time  of  blossoming,  blowing  the  pollen  away  and 
thus  injuring  the  young  forming  fruit.  Incidentally 
to  the  discussion,  Dr.  Collier  said  that  the  fungous 
spores  can  be  carried  a  long  distance.  The  pollen  of 
the  birch  had  fallen  on  the  deck  of  a  vessel  10  miles 
from  shore.  C.  s.  chapman. 
Business  Bits. 
A  Coax  PLANTER. — Prof.  Roberts  told  us  last  year  of  the  great  Im¬ 
portance  of  the  drill  planting  of  corn.  A  cheaper  machine  for  harvest¬ 
ing  corn  Is  coming,  and  such  a  machine  must  have  drills— not  hills— to 
work  in.  The  Eclipse  Corn  Planter,  made  by  the  Eclipse  Corn  Planter 
Company,  of  Enfield,  N.  H.,  Is  a  desirable  machine  in  every  way.  It 
will  plant  corn,  peas,  beans  or  beets  In  hill,  drill  or  check,  and  Is  also 
specially  designed  for  distributing  fertilizers,  ashes  or  hen  manure. 
Mr.  Jacob  Stroup,  who  for  some  years  past  has  been  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Monroe,  Judson  &  Stroup,  of  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  Importers  of 
Canada  ashes,  has  now  allied  himself  with  Chas.  Allison  &  Co.,  of  New 
York  city,  under  the  firm  name  of  Allison,  Stroup  &  Co.,  216  Fulton 
Street,  New  York.  Messrs.  Allison  &  Stroup  are  experienced  in  the 
Canada  ashes  business,  and  those  wishing  to  purchase  ashes  for  fer¬ 
tilizing  purposes,  will  be  furnished  with  samples  and  Information  on 
application. 
A  Bright  Pamphlet. -The  R.  N.-Y.  is  very  glad  to  say  that  it  has 
helped  to  Introduce  Breed’s  weeder  to  the  American  farmer.  We  saw 
the  utility  and  value  of  this  simple  little  machine  at  once  and  were 
glad  to  call  attention  to  it.  The  makers  have  now  issued  a  pamphlet 
that  is  as  unique  and  original  as  their  machine.  This  little  book  con¬ 
tains  pictures  of  such  men  as  J.  S.  Woodward,  John  Gould,  J.  H.  Warn, 
Waldo  F.  Brown,  W.  I.  Chamberlain  and  Z.  Breed,  the  Inventor  of  the 
weeder.  There  are  also  excellent  articles  on  the  culture  of  corn,  pota¬ 
toes,  fruits,  wheat,  etc.,  showing  how  the  weeder  can  be  made  useful. 
Every  reader  of  The  R.  N.-Y.  should  send  to  the  Universal  Weeder 
Company,  North  Weare,  N.  H.,  for  a  copy  of  this  pamphlet. 
