370 Report oF THE HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
Ounce trees in the orchard was observed, and no constant differ- 
ence could be found. Some were more fruitful on the west side 
and some on the east side. It may be said that the better result 
from spraying in bloom was due to the fact that those trees 
sprayed after blooming were treated rather late; but this fault 
applies to all the experiments, whatever the results. 
The second result (no apparent injury to blossoms) of this 
season’s work seems to be without exception, unless in the case of 
Mr. Freeman’s test. Trees in full bloom which were covered with 
Bordeaux till every flower was blue instead of white, set just as 
good a crop as those not sprayed in bloom. Apple blossoms on 
trees in Orleans County and pear blossoms on trees in the Cornell 
orchard were drenched with Bordeaux when fully open, and 
tagged. An average percentage of fruit set in both cases. Yet, 
despite these results, the spray may have killed many blossoms, 
for not one blossom in twenty could have set fruit anyway. 
Laboratory tests at Cornell showed that apple pollen would not 
germinate (or grow) after it had been immersed in Bordeaux 
mixture, | 
REMARKS ON THE ATTITUDE OF ORCHARDISTS IN THE REGION 
UNDER DISCUSSION. 
Various apple growers of Niagara and Orleans Counties, par- 
ticularly of Gasport and vicinity, contend that it is allowable or 
even necessary to spray when their trees are in full bloom, for 
three reasons: | | 
(1) Experience is said to show that spraying when in bloom 
gives more and better fruit. 
(2) Even as a matter of necessity and not of choice, some 
spraying must be done at that time. With the extent of orchards, - 
it is sometimes impossible to complete the first spraying before 
blossoming time, even though the work is begun when the buds 
first show pink. 
(3) It is doubtful whether bees are killed by arsenical sprays 
under normal orchard conditions. 
a  —— 
