The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-25
sPRAYISG FRUIT TREES.
summary of . Bulletin Issued by q
Department of Agriculture,

summary of Bulletin Issued by the
Department of Agriculture.
WASHINGTON CRY, April 13.-Tspecial.l-
Inc United States department of agri-
culture has just issued an interesting
bulletin giving instructions on spraying
iruit trees for insect pests and fungus dis
eases This bulletin was prepared by Ed
win Willis, assistant secretary, under the
direction of Secretary Rusk. 1t gives very
important instructions in regard to the
practice, methods and effects of spraying
fruit trees for insect pests and fungus dis
eases. This practice has been wildly ex-
tended during the last few years, largely
upon the lines laid down by this depart
ment as the result of careful and extended
experiments. The fact that the COM
pounds generally used are slightly poison
Gus in their character, has led some per-
sons to express apprehension lest their
application should injure the fruit for
consumption. The apprehension, how
ever, has been shown over and over again
to be ill-founded, frequent experiments
under all possible conditions having
shown that no spraying, as prescribed by
the department experts, has ever resulted
in the slightest effects on the fruits SUBJ
ject to it.
The distribution of insecticide mixtures
In the form of spray was first begun in
this country on large scale during the
early spread of the Colorado potato beetle
In the Western states Paris green was
first used in 1869, both as dry mixture
diluted with -four, ashes, plaster or Stacked
lime, and in liquid suspension in water
Spray machines soon came into use, and
this method of application of insect
destroying mixtures was speedily ex-
tended to other insect pests. In
1878 poisoned spray was first
used against the codling moth, and the
entomologist of the department had pre-
viously recommended this remedy for the
cotton worm and several other leaf-eating
insects. During the progress of the in
vestigation of the cotton worm many
spraying machines were developed, and
from that time to the present the develop
ment of methods and machinery has been
rapid, until at the present time the best
remedies against perhaps the majority of
our principal insect pests comprehend the
application of an insecticide spray at one
time or another.
One OF the best sprays is kerosene emul-
sion, which may be made by means of
varions emulsifying agents, but the most
satisfactory substances, and those most
available to the average farmer and fruit
grower, are milk and soapsuds. In each
of these cases the amount of emulsifying
agent should be one-half the quantity of
kerosene, to each gallon of water used
about one-half pound of common soap is
added. This emulsion acts by contact and
is applicable to all demonstrating insects
such as the true bugs and es-
pecially plant lice and scale in
sects, as we'll as the apple worm
or plum curculio, in which the use OF
insects resin wash is used, which forms
an impervious coating and effectuaily
smothers the insects treated. Experience
has shown that the best formula for the
red scale and its yellow variety. is as fol-
lows:
Caustic soda GO per cent strength) ...5 pounds
Fish Oil 49,. ..--.............-....2a p1nts
Water to make. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 100 gallons
These ingredients are placed in kettle
with sufficient water to cover them. They
are then boiled until dissolved, and should
be kept boiling until the necessary amount
of water is added. This spray may be ap-
piled at any time during the growing sea-
son.
Great caution should be used in apply
ing arsenites On account of the liability of
burning or scalding the foliage The
poisons should be thoroughly mixed in
the proportion of one pound to 100 to $50
gallons of water and applied with a force
pump and spray nozzle. Paris green or
London purple when freshly mixed may
be applied to apple, plum and other fruit
trees except the peach, at the rate of one
pound to $50 to 200 gallons, the latter
amount being recommended for the plum.
which is more easily scalded than
the apple. White arsenic does little
if any injury when freshly mixed, but
when allowed to stand for some
time in water it acts with wonderful
energy. These poisons when applied to
the peach even in the proportion of one
pound to 300 or more gallons of water are
very injurious in their action, causing
great loss of foliage.
The only insecticide sprays which are
at all dangerous to use are the arsenic
compounds and even here the danger is
greatly exaggerated by those not CONVEX
SAINT with the facts. Paris green and Lon
don purple have been extensively used for
many years in this country and not single
case of fatal poisoning has ever been
substantiated. When Paris green
was first used great deal Of
count of the supposed danger, and
only recently the sale of American apples
in England has received a setback owing
to the supposed danger of arsenic poison
ing from their consumption. DIR. William
McMurtrie, formerly chemist of the de-
partment, in 1873 showed that even where
Paris green was applied in quantities suf-
ficient to cause the willing or death of the
plants, the most rigorous chemical analy-
sis failed to show any arsenic in the com.
position of the plants themselves.
Probably in no other country of the
world is spraying for fungus diseases of
fruits practiced to the same extent as in
the United States. Five years ago nothing
was known on this subject, and now the
entire country, besides Canada and even
Aus liza, have adopted the recommends
tons of the department of agriculture. In
answer to the universal question as to
whether 1t pays to spray. it is shown that
last year the actual profit to go
grape growers in different parts of
the country over all expenses was
about $37, eco; $4,000 of this sum was re-
ported from New York state alone. Num-
erous preparations have been recon-
mended and used for this work. For all
practical purposes, however, there are four
which may properly be called remedies.
They are Bordeaux mixture ammoniacal
solution of copper carbonate, eau celeste,
and modified eau celeste. No fast rules
can be laid down as to the best manner
and time TO spray. The fruit grower will
have to use his own judgement, es-
pecially as regards the number of
sprayings and the proper time to dis
continue them. Great injury results
through the folly of individuals who make
more applications than are necessary and
with some complicated machine, applying
the solution in daubs at one point and
emitting 1t IN others The most effective
sprayer requires, first of all, to be good,
strDoy forca puu,n having nozyia tina,