The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-10
FARM AND
GARDEN ~
INTERESTS
Experience i'm Spraying.

correspondence Country Gentlemen.
We are strong believers in spraying. We
have seventy acres in apple trees, varying
in age from FIVE to twenty-five years. We
have been spraying for nine years. We
used the liquid process for six years
spraying from three TO four times a year
using the regular Bordeaux mixture for
fungus and the arsenics for cooling moth.
Our success was never satisfactory. The
fungus kept increasing until We had only
small percentage of perfect fruit. We
were more successful in holding in check
the cooling moth than the fugus.
Three years ago we commenced spra ying
with the dust process. We divided our
orchard into blocks. spray a part with the
liquid and part with the dust, spraying the
same number of times and on the same
days. Where we used the dust we had
fair crop of apples. and but few where we
used the liquid. Where we used the dust it
was evident we had overcome the fungus
to such a degree that by increasing the
strength of the compound and with thor
ough work we could eradicate it from the
orchard. The next year we sprayed six
times, producing the best crop Of fruit we
had grown in ten years. The machines we
used in distributing the dust were not salts
factory. They were of the bellows pattern.
Last spring we purchased machine made
at Kansas City which is better. We could
drive volume of dust through two-and-
one-half-inch pipe. covering everything
with dust. driving at a slow walk.
We sprayed eight times; first just before
the bloom opened; then as it dropped; then
twice the next week; then once week until
we had sprayed seven times. We sprayed
last the end of July. The few wormy ap-
moth during June and July. In our Jona-
thans not over per cent. and Ben Davis 5
per cent were wormy fruit, and not sign
of fungus could you find on our fruit We
mad as fine lot as ever was grown in
northern Missouri Our neighbors around
us threw half of theirs into the Gull pile
and what they barreled were poor No. e.
On block Of Jonathans we barreled 800
barrels two years ago. Last year from the
same trees we gathered $50 barrels of as
fine fruit as ever went into any market.
The same trees are full of fruit buds for
this year. Our prospect in general is fine
for a good crop this year, and that Is not
all. Our orchard is practically clear of in
sect life, and there are no evidences Of
fungus.
Lime being your conveyor, you have a
basis upon which you can make COM
pound. with perfect safety to your foliage,
that will exterminate insect life. We
know that to be true by experimenting
with it. You will never see any discoi-
oring of fruit. 1t gives you a perfect
foliage. In the liquid process you cannot
have thorough work, but in the dust every
particle of the tree Is covered; not only
that. but everything around it. AS a
fungicide, there is no comparison of the
two methods, nor in destroying the canker
worm and cooling moth. One year ago 1
prepared paper on the subject Of dust
spraying. Then / stood alone rs an advo-
cate Of the process. I read another paper
at the summer meeting, and one the last
meeting. To-day the growers are lining up
in favor Of the dust. A very large per-
centage have side-tracked their liquid
You can spray from forty to fifty acres in
years old, at one-half the expense. Cost of
material per tree, 3 cents. BY our expert
ence We have perfected the only perfect for
mula before the growers, and have given it
for the asking to every inquirer. Here 1t
is: On barrel of fresh lime, twenty-five
pounds blue stone. pounds concentrated
I've, twenty-five pounds powdered sulphur,
five pounds paris green (pure.) Increase
paris green to ten pounds for canker
worms. Break lime into small pieces and
put 1t into box three by six feet. Dissolve
blue stone in boiling water. six gallons.
Dissolve I've in five gallons hot water. Keep
the two solutions separate. Take sprinkler
and sprinkle the solutions on the lime; II
not enough to slack into dust. water.
Cover over the dust when through slack
ing. Make sieve Of fine wire and attach
long handle Sift out the dust. Rub sui
phur through sieve into the dust and put
paris green in. Stir thoroughly. Be careful
not to get dust too damp. Your compound
is now ready for use Spray just before
week until you have sprayed six times.
Then once every two weeks until the 1st
of August.