Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-05-04
SPRAYING FRUIT TREES.
Things Which Should Eo Remcm.
bered in Fighting Pests.

Having had a great deal of expert
cnce in spraying fruit trees | find that
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
fact that great many owners of fruit
trees hive some very indefinite ideas
as to what to spray with, when to
spray, or whether it makes any diff
ference how it is done, just so as they
spray. 1t is certain that spraying
might as well be given up entirely I'M
less it is done thoroughly and regu-
larly at the proper time each season.
While 1t is by no means a cure for all
the ills Of tree fruit culture, still it is
powerful adjunct to successful or
chard management. AS l have prac-
ticed spraying regularly each season
for several years l have found that
one of the first requisites toward sue
cess is good outfit complete. After
experiencing the use of three different
outfits the best one l have yet found
consists Of a 100-gallon cask which
rests on its side in rack to hold it
in place. A strong force pump with
an automatic stirrrer which is put in
the bulge of the cask, two half-inch
hose 16 feet long, two ten feet extern
sion rods and two double vermorel
nozzles. With this outfit, three men,
a team and wagon, we usually spray
800 12-year-old trees in one day. But
little time is lost in having to repair,
unclog nozZles, 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
I have Experimental with the differ
ent ingredients recommended, contin-
ues this writer in Farmers Review, l
find that the most effectual formula
is a half pound of paris green, eight
pounds of blue vtr:ol and eight pounds
of lime to 100 gallons of water. In
preparing the mixture l put 80 pounds
of blue vitriol in a burlap sack and
suspend it in barrel containing 80
gallons Of water the day before it is
to be used, so as to give it ample
time to thoroughly dissolve. l then
slack eight pounds of fresh lime, and
when ready to use it | strain it into
another vessel and slack eight pounds
more to be ready when wanted. l
next put a half-pound of paris green
in three-fourths of gallon of water
and keep it thoroughly stirred until
ready for use the next day. The fol-
lowing morning when ready to begin
spraying | fill the cask almost full Of
water, leaving room, however, for the
ingredients. l then strain the lime
solution into the cask, next eight gal
Ions of the blue vitriol solution and
lastly the paris green mixture. / then
put the ends of the pump hose so as
to pump the" mixture back into the
cask, and run the pump for several
minutes in order to thoroughly mix
the entire solution. In spraying | ap
ply the mixture with sufficient force |
to reach every part of the tree and |
foliage. giving a fine moist spray until |
the entire tree IS we'll covered, which |
is indicated by slight dropping of mix |
ture from the trees. | spray three |,
times each season. The first spray. |
ing is commenced just before the |
blossom buds open in the spring. At
this time the canker worm, bud moth,
leaf crumpler. 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, it is the proper
time to gain possession ahead of them.
In spraying the second time l begin
just as soon as the petals of the bios
SONS have dropped and make the third
spraying ten days later.