The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-11-13
RESULTS FROM SPRAYING AP.
PIE TREES.

For four or five years past the or
chard of Northern Spy apples on
Mouton farm, Oneida Co, N Y, has
not produced good crop of apples.
The trees are in good healthy con
dItion, made a strong growth Of wood,
and usually blossomed we'll, but the
apples were few and poor This or
chard has never been trougled much
with insects, so it was with the hope
Of increasing the yield and improving
the quality of the apples that spraying
was fesOrted to last spring.
The first spraying was done early in
April before the buds had opened
The material used was two pounds
sulphate of copper dissolved in so
gallons of water. This was sprayed
thoroughly over all the trees except
10 or Is that were outside fence run
h1ng through part Of the orchard. The
next application was made just b fore
the blossoms opened. This consisted
OF bordeaux msxture, being the same
as the first application except thai
enough lime is added to neutrahze the
acid effect of the sui lphate Of copper,
which would Otherwle destroy the
foliage and buds. When lime is added
60 a solution Of sulphate of copper the
effect is TO change the sulphuric acid
In the sulphate of copper over to
the lime, which has a stronger affinity
for iG than the copper, and thus form
ing sulphate of lime or gypsum and
pr9cipltated copper, both of which are
harmless to foliage. 1t was found very
convenient to have a strong solution
of yellow prussiate of potash (ttrrO
cyanide of potassium) to test the Dor
deaux mixture to ascertain when
enough lime had been added to pre-
vent any injury to the foliage. When
the prussirte Of potash is dropped in it
will instantly turn black if enough
lime has not been added, but will show
no color if the quantity Of lime is
sufficient The third spraying, using
bordeaux mixture, was done after the
apples had formed and commenced to
grow. Paris green was used in con-
nection with the last two applications
of bordeaux mixture. These two ap,
pllcations the were made to the
whole orchard, including the trees out
side the fence that had not received
the first spraying.
The weather was exceedingly un-
favorable for spraying, as it rained
nearly every day and consequently
the fungicide and poison was washed
IF the trees very soon after it was ap-
pied This was rather discouraging
work, but nevertheless I think it paid
even under these unfavorable condi-
tions On the orchard inside the fence
there is now good crop of nice fair
apples. 1t is the largest crop we have
had on the orchard for five years, and
is the best crop of apples in his neigh
borhood as far as have seen. The trees
outside the fence which did not receive
G10 hA5U spray LuS1 0AO"AuS q OCSAAOO
inferiority to the rest of the orchard.
Not only are there much fewer apples,
and these of poorer quality, but the
foliage is badly blighted and the trees
do not look as healthy as in the rest of
the orchard. This would seem to show
that the first application made on the
bare limbs was the one. that did the
most good. It is possible however that
if the weather had been more favor.
able during the time the two applica
tions of bordeaux mixture were made,
the result might have been different
Nevertheless there seems to be little
doubt that this early spraying with
plain sulphate of copper did good, and
as it is inexpensive, easily prepared
and easily applied, it should never be
omitted.
Clean out and make ready for the
live stock all barns, sheds and yards
The manure may be spread profitably
on grass or winter oats or wheat II
will feed them and at the same time
act as a mulch to protect them from