The record-union., 1896-06-13

since spray of salt. sulphur and lime
had been used on peach trees, curl lear
had practically disappeared. Where
the solution was used properly, there
was no danger from curl-leaf. 1t should
be composed of forty pounds of sulphur,
thirty pounds of lime and fifteen pounds
of salt. The sulphur should be raised
nearly to a boiling point in order to
dissolve it. Lime should be mixed in
and then the salt added, and if properly
compounded he believed the spray
would effectually kill curl-leaf.
Daniel Flint, the veteran hop-groWer,
was called on to report the fruit pros
poets about Sacramento, but declined
to do so, not being a heavy grower him.
self He was interested in the reports
from different localities, he said. but
hops was his long suit.
Robert Williamson of Sacramento
could not agree with Senator Langford
regarding his sulphur, lime and salt
spray. A year ago he believed in it as
firmly as anyone, but he had seen
number of orchards this season where
the spray had been applied which were
very badly damaged.
Many of the trees in the vicinity Of
Sacramento were stripped by curl-leaf,
the fruit dropping after the leaves were
gone. Certain varieties of peaches
were much more damaged than others.
The crop was, he said, spotted. Some
trees promised a good crop, while other
trees of a like variety on the same
ranch carried no fruit whatever. The
trees situated in the most elevated
Places seemed to be the ones most IN
jured. Peaches promised little less
than one-half of a crop, while pears
promised a full crop, though some
orchards showed signs of rust Apples
promised about one-half crop, but
showed less worms than for the past
ten or fifteen years.
Senator Langford took issue on the
sulphur, lime and salt proposition, and
declared that if the ingredients We're
properly mixed and applied 1t was
sure death to curl-leaf.
Mr.. Williamson said he had seen 1t
applied, and the orchard was stripped
by curl-leaf, which did not augur well
FOR the wash.
Can you tell me what causes curl
leaf?" said Mr.. Williamson.
NO. / can't" replied Langford; Il
never attended school but one day in
my life, and the teacher was sick that
day, so I'm not very well up in the
sciences"
Secretary Lelong stated that curl
leaf was a fungus, which developed
very quickly, and that tree might be
properly sprayed, and afterward in
cculated with spores from tree in
neighboring orchard, so that there was
nc absolute protection against its raw
ages unless every tree in a community
was sprayed. The growth of curl-leaf
fungus was much more rapid during
a wet season than a dry season, which
accounted for it's prevalence at this
time.
Mrs. Elizabeth Shields of Sacramento
inquired whether some varieties OF
fruit were not subject to curl-leaf more
than others. The idea seemed to pre-
'--ail that the early Crawford in dry sec
tons usually escaped, while the late
Crawford was almost always touched;
while, in damp localities, such as Marin
County, the reverse was the case. 1t
vas all a question of locality.
Senator belong of Marin County be-
lieved that any spray applied to trees
would be more or less effected by rains.
and he further doubted whether the
sulphur, lime and salt spray or any
other spray would take immediate &C
ton on the curl-leaf or any other fun
gus.
Secretary Lelong explained that the
wash was instantaneous in killing the
spores, provided it was allowed to dry.
If the atmosphere were humid, and re-
manned so, preventing the spray from
drying, it would not be so effective or
act as quickly.
Mr.. Williamson said his theory had
always been that cold, wet weather
caused the sap of the tree to sour, and
that this same sour sap caused curl
leaf.
Mr. Lelong explained that something
could not spring from nothing, and that
the curl-leaf was a classified fungus
and was thoroughly understood by sci
entists If a tree were once cleared OF
fungus, it was safe until spores from
ether trees settled upon the tree spray
ed when, if the weather were damp
they would grow if the tree We're not
resprayed Wet weather did not cause
curl-leaf, but merely caused the spores
tc grow; but once they were dead they
were dead for ali time.
Senator Langford doubted whether
any one knew anything about curl-leaf
It was like rust on wheat One hun
dred thousand books had been writer
on the subject at a cost of million and
! a half of dollars, and to-day no one
but himself understood what caused
rust. He didn't know what caused curl
| leaf. but he did know that wash OF
salt, sulphur and lime would kill it
| if properly applied. He couldn't gel
away from that proposition, Mr.. Will
| hanson Notwithstanding.
| G.. w. Hinkley said he raised as gooo
| fruit as any one and never sprayed
| tree in his life. and to-day was willing
| to give four bits a leaf for every curlec
| leaf in his orchard. He believed thai
| low temperature caused curl-leaf
| Neighbors of his had trees badly
| curled, and he believed it was due tc
The temperature being 10 or II degrees
| lower than upon his ranch.
Senator Langford said there were va
rieties of peaches which never curled
and that locality had much to do with
| it,
| No further business coming before 1t
| tie meeting adjourned to meet the Sec
ond Friday in July at 1870 a. m.
To Protect Children.
Articles of Incorporation of the Sac