The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-07-20
DANGER IN SPRAYING.


f.. I. Harrington warns readers OF
The Country Gentleman that while the
necessity for spraying fruit trees and
small fruits during the spring and
summer months In recognized, IL should
be remembered that this practice Is
attended with danger unless certain
important facts are borne In min. As
a rule. the poison which IN used for
killing insect pests IL equally fatal To
human beings. IL is probable that
many cases OF illnesss are due TO eat
Ing fruit containing n small amount or
some poisonous substance.
Take the case OF the currant, for In
stance. Currant bushes blossom early
and portion or the flower remains To
become a part OF the fruit. IL curls up.
however. In such n manner ns TO form
little sack. ana when such poison as
Paris green or arscnate OF lead IN spray
ed on the bushes after the blossoms
appear. some OF II 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 10 the
air. and may even be placed upon the
fruit during tho ripening period with
out doing any harm. IL is easy 20 APP
ply hellebore by dustifg IL on the
bushes while the latter are wet with
dew. II Is effective when mixed with
an equal part OF -four. Hellebore may
be used as a spray to good advantage
when mixed with whale oil soap.
Some horticulturists recommend
spraying trees with nrsenate or lead
during the greater part OF the season,
but there Is danger In this practice. IL
Ii 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 many bees. which are
useful for their work In fcrtilizing the
blossoms as well rs because OF their
bountiful yield OF honey during the
apple blossom season.
II is a safe and n wise practice TO
spray with arsenate OF lead and Bor-
ieaux mixture Immediately after the
petals fall. IL Is dangerous. however
20 use poison on the trees after the
.ruit has turned over. as IL viii ind
Judgment 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 n
strong desire to use n poisonous COM
pound for the purpose OF killing them.
This cannot be done with safety, how
ever. IL frequently happens that much
q small amount OF shorts on the ground
about the plants. Certain worms will
leave the asparagus stalks by sowing
lettuce In the bed. They will feed on
The lettuce In preference.
have never tried the experiment.
but IL 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 othe. day had been found to work
well. IL was simply 10 set fresh pine
bough upright among the branches OF
each bush. I understand that this
should be done before the currant
worms have appealed In large num-
bers. IL II possible that the pests find
the pine boughs offensive and so keep
away. but should prefer To make use
OF hellebore, too. In order TO make
assurance doubly sure.