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

e. l. harrington warns leaders OF
The Country Gentleman that while the
necessity for spraying fruit trees and
small fruits during the spring and
summer months Is recognized, 1t 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 a portion of the flower remains to
become a part of the fruit. 1t curls up,
however, In such a manner as to form
q little sack, and When such a poison as
Paris green or arsenate of e Is spray
ed on the bushes after the blossoms
appear, some of 1t 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
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 a spray to good advantage
when mixed with whale oil soap
Some horticulturists recommend
spraying trees with a%rsenate Of lead
during the greater part Of the season,
but there is danger in this 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 fruit.
Moreover. the use of the poison at this
time will kill man bees, which are
useful for their work in fertilizing the
blossoms as well as because Of their
bountiful yield Of honey during the
apple blossom season.
1t Is a safe and a wise practice to
spray with %arsenate Of lead and Bor-
leaux mixture Immediately after the
petals fall. 1t is dangerous, however,
20 use poison on the trees after the
Fruit has turned over, as 1t will find
Judgment in the hollow where the stem
joins the ruit. Arsenate Of lead is
adhesive.
Sometimes the presence of insect
pests in the asparagus bed creates a
strong desire to use 8 poisonous COM
pound for the purpose of killing them.
This cannot be done 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
about the plants. Certain worms will
cave the asparagus talks 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 he pests to come to
the surface, when they may be picked
by hand and destroyed.
This. reminds me of another remedy
for rnIrDn nj worms which uya told
the other day had been found to work
well. 1t was Simply to set a fresh pine
bough upright among the branches of
Zach bush. 1 understand that this
should be done before the currant
worms have appealed In. large num-
bers. 1t is possible that therpests find
the pine boughs offensive and"so keep
away, but I should prefer TO make. use
of helleborc, too, in order to- make
assurance doubly sure.