1905. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
HOW TO SPRAY HIGH TREES. 
I have never used any platform higher than 
the spray barrel in ray work, depending on 
extension rods to reach the tops of the trees. 
I do not see how we are going to use towers 
of any height safely on our hillsides, where 
many of our best orchards are located. It 
would seem absolutely essential that we prac¬ 
tice low heading, in view of the numerous 
insect enemies we have to combat. I»ow 
heading is practicable in my judgment, both 
with the apple aud pear, and no small con¬ 
sideration is the economy of gathering fruit 
from trees so handled. j. r. Cornell. 
Orange Co., N. Y. 
We have no very tall trees, nothing that 
we cannot reach from the top of our tank 
with a 10-foot extension rod and 10 feet of 
hose that we use on the pump. Our tank is 
a homemade affair that holds 150 gallons, 
and it cost something like $5 all- told. In 
spraying the highest trees we climb on the 
top of the tank, which is over four feet in 
diameter, and about the same in height above 
the platform, and from this, elevation with 
plenty of pressure there should be no trouble 
in reaching the tops of very tall trees if on 
level ground. Where the trees are on a hill¬ 
side the matter is much more difficult. If I 
wanted to get the spray still above the height 
that I can reach at present I should build a 
strong framework over and around my tank, 
with steps and a platform, so I could go as 
high with the spray as was necessary. 
Itutchess Co., N. Y. t. e. cross. 
Most of our spraying has been in peach or¬ 
chards. In those we don't need anything so 
very high, but in spraying high apple trees 
we use extension rods. Bamboo makes a very 
light rod; we also have 12 feet of half-inch 
pipe. With these long rods from a wagon we 
can reach trees that are quite high. As I 
have had little experience in spraying very 
high trees, I cannot give just the information 
asked for, but should say some platform on 
a wagon' - with good extension rods would be 
the best thing to use on high trees. 
Hampden Co., Mass. ethelbert bliss. 
We have never had use for a high ladder 
or derrick in spraying, and fear that if we 
should describe our method it would not seem 
orthodox to many growers of tree fruits. Our 
largest orchard, 70 acres, is quite rolling, and 
we do not care to draw a large tank, but 
use two well-built hayracks with fiat tops 
closely boarded, 16 feet long and six feet 
wide, with two-inch beveled strips on the out¬ 
side. and boxed in where front wheel strikes 
to facilitate in turning. Use good heavy 
brass spray pump in kerosene barrel, and 
about 10 other kerosene barrels for storing 
stock solutions and water. These racks are 
set well up on good springs, and as our 
trees are low, this puts us high enough, and 
we can reach the trunk and lower part of 
tree better than if too high. We load one 
wagon with barrels of water (with float on 
top to prevent spilling), also stock solutions, 
one pound to one gallon of water, strainers, 
pails, etc. This we draw to a convenient 
place in the orchard for refilling: such a load 
of water, six or eight barrels, usually lasts 
alKMit half a day. In the other wagon we 
load the barrel, with pump, tools for repairs, 
etc. This? barrel is filled of course the first 
time out.’. We use three men; one to drive 
and pump and one on each side of wagon 
with hose and eight-foot extension rods. 
Kent Co., Mich. l. j. post. 
In spraying high apple trees, which are the 
highest trees we have yet had occasion to 
spray, we use a “tower” or high platform, 
securely bolted to the platform or box of the 
wagon. This tower is a simple affair, built 
of four strong scantlings for uprights. Cross¬ 
pieces are bolted at such a height from the 
bottom as will bring the platform upon which 
the workman will stand about, eight to 10 
feet from the ground. Boards are nailed to 
these cross-pieces for the floor and 2*4 to 
three feet gbove this floor other pieces are 
securely fastened to serve as a railing or 
guard. The base of the uprights are of 
course arranged at such a distance apart as 
will fit the frame of the wagon, and the 
tower should be securely braced. Ten feet 
is about as high as would be found convenient 
to have the platform above the ground, aud 
it should, preferably, be placed over the rear 
of the wagon, so. that the drift from the 
spray will be more apt to pass away from 
the wagon. My own spray wagon has a plat¬ 
form five feet broad, so the base of the tower 
is five feet broad, but the top is probably 
not more than half that distance, but it is 
sufficiently long to permit two men to work 
from the tower platform. The engine and 
pump are placed under the tower, and all is 
enclosed with three-eighths matched pine, so 
the machinery is protected from the spray. 
A stand-pipe is arranged with shut-offs at the 
top of the tower. These shut-offs should 
have handles six or 1 eight Inches long, so they 
can be worked when quite tight. We find 
this a great improvement over having the 
shut-offs at the base of the extension rod, as 
it was practically impossible to keep them 
tight enough to prevent them from leaking. 
We use extension rods eight to 10 feet long, 
with sufficient hose to work freely. Half¬ 
inch galvanized iron makes a good and cheap 
rod. A rig of this character is a great ad¬ 
vantage in spraying trees of moderate height, 
or even low trees, as it enables the workman 
to see exactly what he is doing, and puts him 
above most of the drift from the spray, thus 
making the work more effective and much 
pleasanter for the men. wn.rjs t. mann. 
Niagara Co., N. Y. 
m 
One Acre for Poultry Pood. 
One of our readers has a one-acre field now 
in grass and weeds, that has not been culti¬ 
vated for five years. He wants to put it in 
corn and root crops for poultry, sowing it to 
rye in the Fall, to turn the chickens on to 
pasture. He wants to know how to proceed. 
What variety of corn would be best, what 
root crops would you suggest, and how much 
fertilizer ought to be used? 
Ans.—I would plow that ground as 
early as possible and thoroughly harrow 
with a disk or Acme harrow several times 
before planting the corn or root crops, 
and would sow broadcast and harrow it 
in the soil at least 600 pounds (and if the 
soil is not good 1,000 pounds) of good 
bone fertilizer. I know of no variety of 
corn better for poultry or anything else 
for that matter, especially on light 
ground, than Learning. I have never 
found any kind of root crop that will 
equal beets, either sugar beets or man¬ 
gels, for poultry. The rye may be sown 
at the last cultivation of the corn, two 
bushels per acre, but instead of sowing 
rye I should sow Crimson clover, four 
quarts per acre. The only trouble with 
Crimson clover is it is not so sure to 
stand as rye, but it is much better both 
for the chickens and the ground if it gets 
a good start. For green feed for poultry 
up until hard freezing weather there is 
nothing that I can find that will equal 
Dwarf Essex rape, but of course it will 
not live through the Winter like clover 
or rye. j. e. s. 
A Vermont 
Farmer Uses 
Bradley’s 
For 
Thirty Years. 
Mr. E. R. Towle, of Franklin County, Vt., writes: “About thirty years ago I commenced 
to use the Bradley fertilizers. 
Bradley’s was the leading kind then made, and it fully sustained its reputation and name, 
and I am glad to say that it still does so after so many years of use. I used these fertilizers for 
years on corn, potatoes and grain with good success. I have found them of great help along 
with the manure made on the farm in the production of good crops and in 
Sustaining the Fertility of the Soil 
Farmers should make all the manure they can and then use a liberal amount, generally 
the more the better, of quick-acting fertilizers like Bradley’s that assist so greatly in giving the 
crop an early and vigorous start —a most desirable object with us at the north — as well as 
carrying them forward to successful maturity. 
For this purpose I BELIEVE THE BRADLEY FERTILIZERS RANK AMONG 
THE FOREMOST IN VALUE, paying a good return for the investment.” 
Why Experiment, when Bradley’s Fertilizers Produce Results Like These ? 
BRADLEY FERTILIZER WORKS 
American Agricultural Chemical Co. 
92 State Street, Boston, Mass. 
