The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1907-05-11
SPRAYING FRUIT TREES.
Thlnos Which Should Be Remsns'
hered in Fighting Pests.

there are three essential things that
should be borne in mind. First. know
ing what to spray for; second. using
the proper solution, and third. to spray
at the right time. ! am aware OF the
TACT that great many owners OF fruit
trees have some very indefinite ideas
as to what to spray with. when TO
spray, or whether 1t makes any diff
terence how II is done, Just so as they
spray. II is certain that spraying
might as well be given up entirely I'M
less IL is done thoroughly and regu-
larly at the proper time each season
While 1t is by no means cure for all
the ills of tree fruit culture, still 1t Is
powerful adjunct to successful or
chard management As ! have prac'
ticed spraying regularly each season
for several years ! have found that
one of the frs requisites toward sue
cess is good outfit complete. After
experiencing the use Of three different
outfits the best one | have yet found
consists of l00.gallon cask which
rests on its side In rack to hold 1t
in place. a strong force pump with
an automatic stirTrer which Is put in
the bulge of the Cask, two half-inch
hose l6 feet long. two ten feet extern
sion rods and two double vermorel
nozzles. With this outfit. three men.
team and wagon. we usually spray
300 12-yearold trees In one day. But
little time is lost in having to repair.
unclog nozzies. etc. and the spray pro
duced is most satisfactory. To OBJ
tain good results from spraying the
materials to be used should be first
class and carefully compounded. As
| have Experimental with the differ
ent Ingredient recommended. contin.
ues this write In Farmers Review,
find that the most effectual formula
is a half pound OF paris green. eight
pounds Of blue yitriOl and eight pounds
Of lime to 100 gallons of water. In
preparing the mixture | put 80 pounds
of blue vitriol in a burlap sack and
suspend It In a barrel containing 80
gallons of water the day before 1t is
TO be used. so as to give 1t ample
time to Thoroughly dissolve. ! then
slack eight pounds Of fresh lime. and
when ready 10 use II strain 1t into
another vessel and slack eight pounds
more to be ready when wanted. !
next put a halfpound of paris green
In threcfourihs OF gallon OF water
and keep II thoroughly stirred until
ready for use the next day. Thc>fol.
lowing morning when ready to begin
spraying ~ the cask almost full of
water. leaving room. however. for the
Ingredient ! then strain the lime
solution into the cask. next eight gal
Ions of the blue vitriol solution and
lastly the Ulfis green mixture. ! then
put the ends of the pump hose so as
to pump the mixture back into the
casll. and run the pump for several
minutes Ia order TO thoroughly mix
the eatirp solution. In spraying ! APP
ply ia. mixture with sufficient force
to reach every part of the tree and
foliage, giving fine moist spray until
the entire tree Is well covered. which
Is Indicated by slight dropping OF mix.
ture from the trees. | spray three
ing is commenced just before the
blossom buds open In the spring. At
this time the canker worm, bud moth.
leaf crumuler leaf folder and cigar
case bearer are making preparations
to begin their destructive work In the
orchard. As these insects are In their
infancy at this period. II is the proper
time to gain possession ahead OF them.
In spraying the second time ! begin
Just as soon as the petals OF the bios.
SONS have dropped and make the third
spraying ten days later. ! regard the
second spraying as being the most i'm
portant OF all. us almost every pest by
this time is doing ravenous work. OF
all the enemies OF fruit culture !
consider the codling moth the most de-
structiyo, II lays its eggs in the calyx
or blossom end OF the forming apple
or pear and In few days the egg
matches and the tiny worm eats its
way into the fruit. About the only
way any beneficial results can be OBJ
tanned by spraying for this pest is TO
spray while the calyS Is expanded and
while the forming fruit IL standing up
ward upon Its stem. II the spraying
Is neglected until the calyx closes and
the fruit has turned downward. most
Of the insects will be inside the fruit
and spraying then will be Of little