The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-07-21
DANGER IN SPRAYING.

II. l. harrington warns readers OF
The Country Gentleman that while the
necessity for spraying fruit trees and
small fruits during the spring and
summer months Is recognized, it should
be remembered that this practice Is
attended with danger unless certain
important facts are borne in mirS. AS
a rule, the poison which is used for
killing insect pests Is equally fatal to
human beings. 1t Is probable that
many cases of ILLNESSES are due to eat
Ing fruit containing a small amount of
some poisonous substance.
Take the case of the currant, for in
stance. Currant bushes blossom early
and q portion of the flower remains to
become q part of the fruit. 1t curls up,
however, In such a manner as to form
a little sack, and when such a poison as
Paris green or urSenate Of lead is spray
ed on the bushes after the blossoms
appear, some of it is apt to be retained
in the flower and incorporated into the
fruit-a veritable sack of poison.
Currants may be safely busted or
sprayed with hellebore, however, as
this loses its poisonous properties after
being exposed for a short time to the
| air, and may even be placed upon the
fruit during the ripening period with
out doing any harm. 1t is easy to APP
ply hellebore by busting 1t on the
bushes while the latter are wet with
dew. 1t is effective when mixed with
an equal part Of flour. Hellebore may
be used as q spray to good advantage
when mixed with whale oil soap.
Some horticulturists recommend
spraying trees with arsenate of lead
during the greater part of the season,
but there is danger in his practice. 1t
is not wise to spray when the trees are
In bloom, as the poison on the flowers
is likely-to stop the formation of Iruit.
Moreover, the use Of the poison at this
time will Kill many bees, which are
useful for their work in fertilizing the
blossoms as we'll as because of their
bounttful yield of honey during the
apple blossom season.
1t Is a safe and n wise practice to
spray with %arsenate of lead and Bor-
1eaux mixture Immediately after the
petals fall. 1t is dangerous, however,
10 use poison on the trees after the
fruit has turned over, as 1t will find
.odgment in the hollow where the stem
joins the fruit. Arsenate of lead is
adhesive.
Sometimes the presence Of insect
pests in the asparagus bed creates a
strong desire to use a poisonous com
pound for the purpose Of killing them.
This cannot be lone with safety, how
ever. 1t frequently happens that much
Of the crop may be saved by spreading
a small amount Of shorts on the ground
leave the asparagus stalks by sowing
lettuce in the bed. They will feed on
the lettuce in preference.
l have never tried the experiment,
but it is said that strong soap suds
containing washing soda poured on the
ground will cause the pests to come to
the surface, when they may be picked
by hand and destroyed.
This reminds me of another remedy
for currant worms which I was told
the other day had been found to work
well. 1t wasasimply to set a fresh pine
bough. upi71ES$#@sslong the branches OF
each bustS5EEsz serstand that this
should28 %lsAefore the currant
wosi11& &&#Aed m :larpesf3YxSa