The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-04-03
Pruning and Spraying.

ment of the best methods of fruit
culture, take the liberty of asking
you to publish few thoughts pertain
ing to this great industry, which is
soon to become second to none of its
kind in the United States, so far as
the apple, pear, prune or peach is con-
cerned. 1t is not uncommon for the
man who has given his fruit trees
proper care to pick from one pear tree
forty bushels of fine, perfect fruit. The
same may he said of the apple, which
is and always will be the king of fruits.
The Yakima peach has gained for it.
self worldwide reputation, being
second to none grown on the Ameri-
can continent. The output of the
Walla Walla fruit belt and that of the
Snake river valley is too fresh in the
minds of the consumer, both in the
old world and in the new, to need any
comment.
There is, however, a danger threaten
ing the prosperity of the fruit growers
of this Coast which, unless removed,
may ultimately bring disaster to them.
1t is that hidden germ (fungus) that
lies dormant, concealed from sight
around the bud that you expect your
perfect apple, pear, prune or peach
from. Ii it is not killed soon by some
fungicides it will no longer be dormant,
as it is live germ and in its nature
as contagious to the fruit or fruit trees
as sn allpox in the human family.
This Is the source from which the
black spot of the apple, pear and peach
comes. If this was the only enemy to
be feared by the fruit grower the mat
ter would be the less.
The enemy (codlin moth) that is
running the world-famed, Michigan
apple, has crossed the Rockies and
spread her wings of destruction over
the once famous Oregon apple.
might go on giving the reader
names and history of many other fruit
pests that are to be found in our midst
such rs woCly aphis, green aphis, scales
OF different kinds, but space will not
permit. have simply this to say
There is only one method by which
the fruit growers will ever get rid OF
these foes, and that is by pruning and
spraying, and this to some extent is a
new enterprise with the majority of
fruit growers on this Coast, and such
let me remind of one fact, there is a
right and wrong way in spraying.
1t was only yesterday in my travels
| noticed a number of yards that had
the trunks, and as far as they could
reach on the large limbs, sprayed or
washed with some white substance.
This may have been all right as far as
1t went, but such a method will not
lessen the ravages of the green aphis,
the tent caterpillar, and will make but
little difference with the oyster shell
scale or black fungus. You will find
ninety-five per cent. of all green aphis
deposit on the tender growth of last
year. Who ever saw tent caterpillar
deposit on the trunk of tree? No
one. On the contrary, they are to be
found on the tips of last years growth
The oyster shell scaleathat is to be
found on the stocks of old trees arr
simply the empty scales covering that
served its term years ago.
Ii you want to find perfect scale
they will be easily found on the more
tender growths. To spray and wash
he larger growths and not the tende,
branches has reasoning similar t,
tn" ostrich, which, when, pursued l.
an enemy, sticks its head in the sand
leaving its body uncovered, presunl-
ably out of danger. Do thorouyj
work, and your insect foes will 500,
have to succumb to it. Remembe
that no one spraying will rid hadl
injected orchard from insect pest,
Remember another thing, that yo,
Can kill ten million insects while i.
iodse, worn or grub state of life (arya
to one alter they have become winged
w. H. Brown, in Seattle Pr.
Washing on Lands.