•-» -xu «r-? /-x • r 
of introduction as table or canning pears. They are. 
as a rule, vigorous and productive, with very hand¬ 
some. long-keeping fruits, and may succeed locally 
where well-known varieties fail. None has been 
attacked by blight at any time, though constantly 
exposed to infection, but it is not to be expected that 
they will prove wholly immune. In 191G the writer 
pollinated several hundred blooms of the best of 
these varieties at the Chico Garden, again using 
commercial varieties of the European pear, and 
secured seeds from which an especially fine lot of 
Mixing a Batch of Lime-Sulphur. Fig. 89 
young trees are now growing at Bell Experiment 
Plot. Glendale, Md. Still further quality-improve¬ 
ment is looked for in the coining generation, and it 
is hoped that disease resistance may not be so 
greatly reduced as to lessen the value of the new 
varieties. 
The Golden Russet pear, formerly classed with 
several other Oriental species as Pyrus Chinensis, 
does not appear to have previously been used in 
pear breeding for disease resistance. Ivieffer. Le 
Conte and Garber seem more closely related to what 
is now known as Pyrus ovoidea, while the Golden 
Russet shows greater affinity to P. serotina. Its 
only apparent fitness for the purpose lies in its free 
healthy growth and general resistance to pear 
dieases. w. van fleet. 
Spraying Problems 
PRAYING A NECESSITY.—It is no longer 
necessary to persuade people to spray their 
trees. The need of it is apparent to almost every¬ 
one. but how to get it done is a problem to some of 
us. The large commercial orcliardist is better able 
to work out his spraying problems than the small 
grower or farmer with an acre or less of orchard. 
Yet these trees must be sprayed if really good fruit 
is desired. Because of increased difficulties and 
expense the man with a few trees too often neglects 
to spray. 
COMMERCIAL SPRAYING.—In some neighbor¬ 
hoods the commercial sprayer is doing good work. 
For a number of years the writer conducted such a 
business and his former partner is still carrying on 
the work with success. We frequently applied 
10.000 gallons of spray in a season, treating perhaps 
a hundred or more farm apple orchards during the 
operation, which lasted about a month altogether. 
We made two applications, one with lime-sulpliur in 
early Spring while trees were still dormant, and 
then a “fruit spray,” starting in just after petals 
had fallen, and extending for about one week. We 
first used a gasoline power outfit, but later used the 
barrel pump as better suited to the varied line of 
orchards which we encountered in our rounds. I 
have heard of communities where commercial spray¬ 
ing had not been a success owing to the ignorance 
or dishonesty of the sprayers, or because of the 
farmers not appreciating the benefits of such a plan. 
Where such a plan is not workable the farmer or 
fruit grower must endeavor to do his own spraying 
somehow. The following notes on various spraying 
problems may be helpful. 
SELECTING OUTFIT.—If it is necessary to 
purchase a new outfit care should be taken to select 
one that fits the "needs of the purchaser. A heavy 
outfit seldom gives satisfaction, as the spraying may 
need to be done when ground is soft from Spring 
thaws or heavy rains. A heavy power outfit on a 
soft hillside is about as provoking as a three-ton 
truck in a mudhole. In selecting an outfit the hilly 
or level conditions of orchards to be sprayed are of 
more importance than the size of the orchard.. The 
power outfit will of course save labor of pumping. 
Where labor is scarce this is quite an item. 
I DETAILS OF HANDLING.—If orchard is com¬ 
paratively level the power outfit may be equipped 
1?re RURAL NEW-YORKER 
tor using two leads of hose. Otherwise I would 
arrange for only one lead of hose. Thus correspond¬ 
ingly lighter engine and pump and smaller tank may 
be used. Each lead should consist of at least 20 
feet of good hose, shut-off, 10-foot rod with “Y” 
attached to end of rod and two good nozzles. There 
should be an eighth turn between angle of rod and 
front face of nozzle. This can be secured either 
with eighth turn “Y” or straight “Y” and eighth 
turn elbows between “1”’ and nozzles, or with eighth 
turn nozzles connected directly to “Y.” Either com¬ 
bination will have the desired effect. Use a strong, 
light wagon, preferably with wide tires and built 
so that front wheels will turn completely under 
body. 
HAND POWER.—A splendid hand power outfit 
is the barrel pump mounted ou a cart. Such an 
outfit with one horse hitched to it will go almost 
any place, regardless of low-hanging branches, steep 
hillsides or rocky ground. Two men will operate 
this outfit, one to spray and one to pump and drive. 
Do not attempt to operate more than one lead of 
hose with a hand pump. 
KNAPSACK OUTFITS.—The compressed air 
knapsack pump has its uses in spraying bushes, 
plants and potatoes. The manufacturers should 
either quit recommending their use fro spraying trees 
or else make more durable tanks. Some of the “new 
improved" nozzles for knapsack pumps are worth- 
A Thorough Job with a Hand Pump. Fig. 90 
less. It is my practice to take them off and use a 
regular sized nozzle, such as is used on larger out¬ 
fits. A two-foot rod attached to the short piece of 
hose furnished with pump will be found helpful 
even for ground work. 
CARE OF OUTFIT.—Sometimes when the farmer 
gets out his spraying outfit after a year’s disuse he 
finds he can use it only with difficulty, if at all. He 
will get the idea that spray pumps are like dry 
batteries—wearing out when not in use. Before 
storing outfit for the season the barrel or tank should 
first be thoroughly washed, after which several 
buckets of clean water should be poured in, and 
pumped out till spray coming out of nozzles turns 
clear*. Then open all drain cocks. Be sure to drain 
all departments of pump, suction pipe, rods, hose 
and nozzles. Freezing of water in outfit will prove 
disastrous. Valve caps and all threaded connections 
should then be unscrewed and oiled. Replace them 
lightly, but do not screw tight till ready to use 
again. Even with the best of care spraying outfits 
are splendid trouble makers, and after years of ex¬ 
perience I seldom get much done the first half day. 
Patience is needed. 
CARE OF MATERIALS.—Spray materials are 
sometimes lost through neglecting to take care of 
them. Those in powdered form should be kept dry. 
Those in paste form should be kept from drying out 
by pouring a little water over the material, as the 
top becomes dry. Also they should be kept from 
freezing. Moderately freezing temperatures will not 
injure concentrated lime-sulphur. I have safely 
stored barrels of it in the barn with a little straw 
or fodder about the barrels for protection. I have 
even seen barrels of this material lie outside all 
Winter, but I do not consider this proper care. 
LABOR PROBLEMS.—Labor shortage may be a 
thing of the past before another season, but skilled 
farm laborers and orchardists are not likely to be 
353 
hunting jobs just yet. Poor help is sometimes about 
as bad as none at all. and especially is this true 
when spraying. Any good stout fellow can handle 
the pump handle, but the proper manipulation of the 
rod is not so easily acquired. As to number of 
hands required, no more are needed for spraying 
than for other departments of farm or orchard work. 
Therefore the regular force will be sufficient if they 
can be trained to do good work. Two men with a 
barrel outfit can apply 300 to 500 gallons a day. Do 
not attempt to operate two leads of hose with a hand 
pump. It takes a strong man to keep up sufficient 
high pressure for a whole day. A boy cannot do it 
properly. The larger power outfits require three 
men, two to handle the rods and one man. or boy, 
to drive. I find, however, that the average farm 
laborer does not appreciate the spraying job and 
will “get out of it” if he can. They can scarcely 
be blamed, for spraying is an ugly job at best. 
DISCOMFORTS OF THE WORK.—Some people 
fear that actual physical injury will result from 
coming in contact with various spraying materials. 
Part of this fear is imaginary and part of it is real. 
Arsenical sprays are of course poisonous. Yet I 
have inhaled the mist day after day without ever 
experiencing any ill effect. I do not believe there 
is much danger from this source. Evidently the 
liquid is too dilute to cause injury in such small 
quantities as a person would inhale while spraying. 
But the lime-sulphur spray is a different matter. 
It is not actually poisonous, but because of its 
caustic effect there is danger of physical injury, 
both externally and internally. This liquid even in 
dilute form will eat through the skin much faster 
than whitewash, because it is just that much 
stronger. A drop of it in the eye will cause any man 
to dance a jig. Inhaled, it sometimes causes irrita¬ 
tion of the throat and, perhaps most unpleasant of 
all. it is frequently the cause of an “upset” stomach. 
I have suffered all of these injuries at some time or 
another, yet most of them were the result of not 
properly protecting myself. Much more of the liquid 
will naturally fall on the operator while spraying 
high trees than low trees. No leaks should be 
allowed in hose or rods. Stop and repair them. 
Good leather gloves should be worn. Hands and 
face should always be greased with vaseline before 
beginning work. When at all practicable the spray¬ 
ing should be with a light breeze blowing and then 
spraying only one side of the trees. The other side 
can be sprayed at some other time when the wind is 
opposite. Thus no one need actually be afraid to 
tackle the spraying job if proper precautions are 
taken to prevent physical injury. Much of the diffi¬ 
culty attending spraying could be avoided if orchards 
were planted and cared for with the thought in mind 
that spraying must be done. Orchards planted ou 
steep hillsides, trees too close together and allowed 
Growth of a “ Stnngfellow ” Root-pruned Tree 
Fig. 91. (See Page 356) 
to grow skyward are mistakes which make spraying 
more difficult or even impossible. dayid plank. 
Pennsylvania. 
Tue dairyman without a silo is like a man without a 
country. Right now is the time to figure ou the profit 
of a silo investment. 
Thousands of families have saved the wood ashes for 
use on farm or garden. Do not try to mix these ashes 
wiih hen manure or phosphate. Use them alone— 
broadcast and harrowed in. 
