The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-01-09
Spraying Experiments in the High AL.
titudes of the Inland Empire
for 1908.


The following paper was read by
Professor Shinn of the state univer-
sity and is of great benefit to all fruit
growers as the professor has expert
mented extensively on the matter Of
spraying fruit trees:
Many perplexing problems have
confronted the orchardists in the high
attitudes of the Inland Empire dur
ing recent years; but none have been
of greater moment than that of spray
ing. In this matter history has again
shown a similar record to that found
in other and older horticultural re-
gions. First, the Importance of spray
mig as an orchard practice, and sec
ond, the best methods to follow in this
practice have been presented to men
who would grow apples in our inland
uplands. The absolute need and i'm
portant service of spraying has been
proved beyond all doubt to the apple
orchardist of larger holdings but the
great mass of men who own small
tracts planted to apple orchards are
still somewhat skeptical of the bene-
fits derived from spraying. Moreover,
even large orchardists are at a loss
to know reliable methods to pursue
for getting the best results. When
large orchardists are puzzled then
the condition of small orchardists be-
come very grave, indeed. Not only
has there been hazy notion in the
minds of these men regarding the
number of applications of spray ma
terial but there has also been a varie-
ty of notions regarding the kinds of
material best adapted for combating
orchard pests.
Considering the subject from the
point of view of its Importance, the
large orchardinst is already convinced
of the great benefits derived from
spraying, but the smaller orchardist,
whose holdings may only be small
home planting, needs to be convinced
also of the merits of this practice.
There is a much greater result at
stake in this problem than the aver
age person is apt to attribute to it.
While it is true that there is some
grounds for the belief that it is folly
for the ordinary farmer to try to grow
apples, and that he should depend on
the large orchard for his fruit, never
theless such ideas as these have nei-
Their common experience nor the best
of reason to substantiate them. In the
first place If the farmer does not
grow his own apples the chances are
ten to one that his family will be de-
MED this fruit altogether Moreover,
II one would stop to think, it soon be-
comes apparent that the commercial |
orchardists who grow winter apples
adapted to. shipping to distant mar
kets, will be prepared to provide his
neighbors with this wholesome article
of diet during only a short period OF
the year. The author believes that
the farmers children should have an
pies to eat every day in the year. Bet
ter wormy apple than no apple at
all, but best of all clean, perfect ap-
pie, pleasant alike to the sight and
The palate When our farmers are
prepared to furnish their families
with the very best of fruit through
out the year, then country life will
become more attractive and the Coun-
try Life Commission will have a less
arduous task than they seem to be
facing at present.
Not all the blame for the fact thatI
hey do not spray should be placed
1t the feet of the small orchard own
srs' but great amount of this blame
'hould be placed on the large Or
'hardists and the Experiment Station
workers. The man with a small num-
'er OF trees has been led to believe
by the large orchardist and too often
" our Experiment Station mem that
le must have an extremely high pres
ure, and therefore a costly spraying
pparatus If his work is to be success ,
ILL., when in reality nearly equal re-
ults may be secured with much re-
uced pressure and therefore less :
ostly spraying equipment. The one ,
ONT that does need emphasis is the
act that the work must be done
thoroughly regardless of the size of
lie outfit used.
Turning to the point of material | t
esd in spraying it is found that d. t
ersity of things ofrer themselves a
ON which choice may be made by v
lie man who carrier on spraying t
Bordeaux mixture, the old a
andard fungicide, has fallen into v
srepute with our orchardists in the A
In belt owing to its injury to both Il
ut and foliage, and a fungicide de- s