W* RURAL NEW-YORKER 
The Case of Dusting vs. Spraying 
I N reference to this matter, there are those who 
are expressing radical opinions upon both sides. 
Some are saying that the dusting of fruit trees is a 
worthless proposition, while others are equally vehe¬ 
ment in expressing the opinion that it is so far in 
Strange Result from a Graft. Fig. 8 
advance of spraying as to render the latter operation 
worthless by comparison. However, the consensus 
of opinion of the experiment stations of Nova Scotia. 
New York and Michigan, where the comparisons 
have been most thoroughly worked out. and of con¬ 
servative orchardists who have given both systems a 
fair practical trial is essentially as follows: 
The presence of a strong breeze hampers both sys¬ 
tems, but it seems to interfere with the dusting 
rather more seriously than with the spraying. The 
best time to apply the dust is after four o’clock in 
the afternoon, and from then through the night and 
until morning. 
Dusting will effectually destroy any scale, any 
biting, chewing or sucking insect and any form of 
fungus disease that spraying will destroy, provided 
the right powders are properly and thoroughly ap¬ 
plied. Arsenates combined with sulphur are used 
for chewing insects, including the codling moth, lime 
is incorporated for scale, nicotine for aphis and blue 
vitriol for potato scab and other fungus diseases 
which <Io not readily respond to preparations of 
sulphur. But the best and most effective formulas 
have not yet been worked out. 
Similarly, since the dusting proposition lias been 
seriously in operation for only four years, machinery 
for applying the dusts lias not yet been perfected. 
Nevertheless, even with our imperfect knowledge of 
the most effective forms of powders, and the crude 
implements now in use for applying them, there is 
practically no difference in the efficiency of the two 
systems. Tt seems to be clear that the time is not 
far distant when dusting will wholly supersede 
spraying. Still, the man who has a suitable spray¬ 
ing outfit, in good repair, and is familiar with its use. 
is not advised to discard it in favor of a dusting 
machine at the present time. 
Dusting is by far the most expensive, so far as the 
material is concerned. Cost of application is essen¬ 
tially the same on small trees, but decreases pro¬ 
portionately in favor of dusting as the trees increase 
in size, and may be as much as six times less in the 
case of old, overgrown trees. In addition to this, 
there is not time lost in filling the tank with water, 
and no power is lost in hauling it through the or¬ 
chard. 
On the other hand, there is a greater danger of 
stock being poisoned in case the orchard is pastured, 
or in case the grass is cut and cured for hay. This 
danger, which is negligible in the case of spraying, 
becomes a factor worthy of serious consideration in 
the case of dusting, provided these practices are fol¬ 
lowed. C. O. ORMSHEE. 
B. N.-Y.—After dusting for three years, and using 
several tons of dust, we cannot fully agree with the 
above conclusions. We have found little if any dif¬ 
ference when the dust is put on. We have found no 
great advantage in night or early morning dusting. 
As for the breeze, that depends largely on the or¬ 
chard. Where it is closely planted with rather thick 
heads the breeze does not matter much; in fact, a 
good wind is an advantage, to sift the dust well out 
through the orchard. We do not believe that dust 
will kill the San Jose scale. It is a mistake to try 
to make anyone think it will. There are some in¬ 
sects and diseases against which the liquid sprays 
are certainly more effective. It will pay fruit growers 
with good-sized orchards to have both a sprayer and 
a duster. The chief advantage of the dust is that it 
enables the fruit grower to do rapid work, save 
time and labor and cover the trees just at the right 
time. 
How Do You Explain This? 
I AM sending three apples, the result of grafting 
scions from a Mother apple tree on a Ben Davis 
stock. These apples are neither Mother nor Ben 
Davis, (T have named them Motlier-Ben Davis). 
The Mother apple is an early Fall sort, gone about 
two months ago. These are a much better quality 
than Ben Davis, and far better keeping Jhan the 
Mother apple. Put this up to some of your horti¬ 
cultural friends, and see if they have had any such 
experiences. I grafted three trees at the same time: 
all turned out the same. One tree I had to graft 
two or three times the following year. It did not 
grow the first year, so took some cuttings off the 
grafts I put on the year before, and the result of this 
is they have gone back to the original Ben Davis. 
What do you think of this experience? Is it unusual? 
Tompkins Co.. N. Y. w. f. aspixwall. 
B. N.-Y.—One of these apples is shown at Fig. 8. 
The flavor is far better than Ben Davis and also 
superior to Mother. It is a sizable apple of good 
quality. 
Kudzu in Northern Florida 
T UB little picture at Fig. 9 shows a pasture of 
kudzu in Northern Florida. This is sent by 
Charles 8. Leach, who is much interested in growing 
kudzu. He says that it will prove very valuable all 
Kudzu Pasture in Florida. Fig. 0 
over the country, although thus far its culture has 
been found chiefly in the Gulf States. The picture 
gives an idea of the way this plant grows. It cer¬ 
tainly makes a tremendous growth in the South, and 
it is evident that live stock have become very fond 
of it. If the crop could be made to grow on some of 
our rather poor Northern hillside pasture it would 
certainly prove a great boon to our Northern stock- 
men. Tit is one of the things that should certainly be 
used as an experiment, at least, that we may know 
how far north it will thrive, and how it may be 
handled to best advantage. 
Cows and Forestry Not Good Partners 
N page 1S19, in reply to E. A. W., you ask for 
experience of readers on planting trees in a 
pasture. We have not done any such planting, but 
have had considerable experience in pasturing young 
growth woodland. The only available pasture on 
our farm was a tract of about 48 acres, largely cov¬ 
eted with a nice young growth of white pine, soft 
maple, chestnut and scattering trees of other varie¬ 
ties. We divided this into two pastures, one of about 
38 acres nearly all covered with trees, and the other 
10 acres partly clear land. This division was made 
in order to give the feed in one part a chance to 
grow while the other was being pastured, and has 
worked well. The pastures were kept rather over¬ 
stocked with cows that were fed a heavy grain ra¬ 
tion. The result was that practically everything 
gieen was cleared up and then the cows tackled the 
young pines and maples. Anything they could bring 
down with their necks was bent over and stripped: 
pines up to 3 in. in diameter and maples 1% to 2 
in. About all these trees died, or were so bent over 
they were ruined. The cows also cleaned up nearly 
all the leaves as they fell in the Autumn, thus «.e 
stroying the mold which is necessary for a healthy 
forest growth. As we thought more of the trees 
than the cows, the latter were sold, and no live 
stock has been allowed in the 38-acre tract for sev¬ 
eral years. Result, a fine growth of young pine 
seedlings has started and the carpet of leafy mold 
has been largely restored. We still pasture the 10- 
acre lot with two or three cows kept to supply the 
family with milk and butter. These cows are fed 
considerable roughage at the barn and now destroy 
very little of the growth. 
We consider there is more clear profit from a 
week’s work in the woods than from a month spent 
in taking care of cows. To sum up, our experience 
has been that cows and forestry do not work well 
together, but if you must pasture forest land, do not 
overstock. I would consider it a waste of time to 
put a small stone beside each seedling to prevent 
cows lying on them. The seedlings are pliable when 
small and will spring back into shape without injury. 
The cows usually choose a clearing or space under 
large trees to lie down. l. e. e. 
New Hampshire. 
A Sheep Farmer on Game Laws 
You have published some articles on trespass which 
have been very interesting; however, no solution. I 
put up last Spring two miles of new wire fence for 
sheep pasture, which kept in the sheep, but did not keep 
out hunters with their dogs. Now the fence is broken 
down in a good many places, and I am put to the ex¬ 
pense of fixing my fence. Why does not the Legisla¬ 
ture pass some real law and stop trespass, the same as 
we have in the cities? No one dares to go in our back¬ 
yards : why should anyone be permitted to go over my 
fenced-in ground and over my new seeding, which is 
put down at great expense and care? Must the farmer 
always be considered the fool by cheap city sportsmen? 
.J. W. 
E evidently is so considered by city sports. He 
will continue to have that reputation until he 
can organize, make a campaign and compel the Legis¬ 
lature to give him a fair chance to protect his prop¬ 
erty. lie does not have that chance now. lie never 
will have it so long as he permits others to make the 
game laws for him. The “sport’s” interest in the 
game laws is destructive. The farmer’s interest is 
constructive. There can never be any increase in 
game until the owners of farm land are protected. 
A Fine Strawberry Bed 
F rG. 10 reproduces a photograph of our straw¬ 
berry bed. taken September 20 of this year. It 
does not give a very good idea of the growth of plants. 
These are a variety called Bessie, which was found 
here as a sport or seedling more than 20 years ago. : 
discovered it among plants in a bed of two varieties 
—Haverland and Captain .Tack. On our own soil, 
which is gravelly, underlaid with shale rock, the 
plants make a good growth, with plenty of runners. 
The berry is a few days ahead of Brandywine in 
A Fine strau'berrg Patch. Fig. 10 
ripening, and is of the very best quality. People who 
have eaten them prefer them to all others. They do 
not do well on heavy .soil. The plot shown contains 
four rows. 4 feet apart, and plants 2 feet in the row. 
Greenville, N. Y. o. b. b. 
