The Portland daily press., 1892-02-19
STATE POMOLOGISTS.
Proceedings Of the Second Days SEES
sion.
INTERESTING PAPERS AND DIS
CUSHIONS UPON FRUIT CULTURE.
How Shall the Boys Be Kept Upon the
Farm.-The Use of Paris Green in
spraying-Maine Apples Abroad.

How Shall the Boys Be Kept Upon the
Farm-The Use of Paris Green in
spraying-Maine Apples Abroad.
The second day session of the meeting
of the Maine State Pathological Society
was attended by larger number of peo-
pie than the session of the day before
and the interest of the meeting seemed
to grow and increase to the end.
Among those present not present the
day before, was Mr.. r. C. Plaisted of
Gardiner, one of the largest apple grow
ers in the State. A number of other
faces in the audience were seen, show
ing that the interest in the proceedings
were attracting an increased local atten-
dance. A number of farmers boys oc-
cupied seats in the audience and were
among the most interested specta-
tors of the proceedings. The presence
of the young people was one of the en-
couraging signs of promising interest
in scientific agriculture.
The Benefits of Spraying.
y
Prof. W. NJ. Munson of the State college.
It was upon the topic of Spraying as a
preventive of insect ravages.'' The
speaker described the experiments con-
Quoted at the State college and else
where in the State over the different
spraying solutions. His lecture was il
Illustrated by large diagrams upon the
wall and was listened to with much in
terest by the fruit growers in the audi
ence.
d. The result of the experiments demons
trated beyond any question that the
practice of spraying with solution of
Paris green was effective to save the
fruit The number of sound apples
gathered from sprayed trees was more
than twice as large as the number from
unsprayed trees. AS a rule, Paris green
is to be preferred to London purple.
Spraying is effective in greatly reducing
the attack of codling moths. One pound
of Paris green to 200 gallons of water is
effective.
1t has been asserted that spraying the
trees has detrimental effect in poison
ing the fruit There is no truth in the
statement. Professor Robinson has
stated that it would be necessary for a
man to eat at least so bushels of fruit to
get enough poison from it to exert any
deleterious effect whatever.
In no case should. spraying be done
when the trees are in blossom. There
are three reasons against it. One is that
spraying is too early to be of any use;
second, the danger of killing the honey
bees that are abundant at this time; and
third, the danger of poisoning the honey
which would be danger to man.
The disease of scab which appears up
on the trunk and foliage can be combat
ted by spraying. Experiments were
tried with four different solutions or
mixtures. The results were described
by the lecturer and shown in diagrams.
In general, spraying with copper com
pounds is beneficial in checking the at
tack of scab. The lecturer described the
processes of preparing and using the
compounds.
A force pump made specially for
spraying purposes was shown by the
speaker and its use explained. The cost
of spraying material averaged 10 cents
per tree for spraying seven times. The
solution must not be made too strong.
A judicious use of it has shown good re-
suits both with regard to the coddling
moth and apple scab.
The discussion which followed the
speakers address was an interesting one.
Many questions were asked and an
swered by the speaker. By the use of
lime or Bordeaux mixture in connection
with Paris green a strong solution can be
sprayed upon the tree without injury to
the foliage.
Professor Cook
spoke of the ravages of applescab in
western New York. He was convinced
that it could be greatly checked by
spraying. The farmer who makes appli-
cation of the improved scientific meth
DDS will reap the reward.
Secretary Knowlton spoke at some
length advising caution and good judg-
ment in handling poisonous solutions.
The meeting adjourned to meet again
at 1.30 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The meeting in the afternoon opened
with paper upon grape culture by FL.
w. Brown of Concord, Mass. He ex-
planned the process of cutting back and
girdling the vines that is practiced in
Massachusetts. A short discussion fol-
lowed.
The second paper was read by
C. Il. Wheeler
of Chesterville, ex-member of the board
of agriculture. The topic was ''Selling
Our Fruit" He deplored the practice of
sending out inferior apples as the best