Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-03-23
Orchard Spraying Suggestion.

The spraying Of apple trees should
begin before the buds start in the spring.
Any time after the snow Is gone Is all
right for this early spray. This ap-
lplication is directly aimed at the apple
scab. For this spray solution OF cop
per sulphate is used Is pounds of sui
phate to 100 gallons water.) This makes
q very cheap formula and there 10 no
trouble with the nozzles clogging.
Every part of the tree can be most easily
hit at this time and the scab is given
serious setback before it gets started In
the spring. However, after the buds
swell it cannot be used with safety as
the copper sulphate will burn all tender
tissues exposed.
The next spray had best como after
the leaves are we'll out, but before the
blossom buds begin to open. This is
aimed at the insect enemies especially,
such as the bud moth, caterpillars, and
at the same time we get In another blow
at the fungus. We therefore spray with
formula: Copper sulphate, 8 pounds;
lime 10 pounds, and arsenate of lead, 9
pounds; water, 100 gallons.
| The last spray comes after the bios
SONS have fallen but before the small
apple changes from its upright position.
This is aimed directly at the Goblin
moth but We at the same time get in
third blow at the fungus which should
leave the fruit practically clean, how.
ever. many find fourth spray applied
two or three weeks later profitable.
In making these applications thor
oughness is of the highest Importance
and we should aim to cover the whole
tree with fine mist rather than to drench
the lower limbs. To obtain this fine
mist high pressure is necessary and ii
the work is done with hand pump an
energetic man at the handle Is indis-
pensable.
1t will be found great help in mix
| ing the Bordeaux If an arrangement
something like the following is used.
Make platform that is higher than the
top of your spray barrel when it Is on the
wagon and ON this platform place four
barrels holding so gallons each. Num-
Der these l, 2, 3, 4. In No. l place 80
gallons of water and in this suspend
sack containing so pounds of copper sui
phate. In No. slack 65 pounds OF
lime. Then when 1t is desired to mix
tank of Bordeaux take from barrel No.
/, s gallons of the dissolved sulphate
and put into barrel No. 8 and fill with
water. Then take the same amount
from barrel No. 2 and put into barrel
No. 4 and fill with water. These bar
rels, 8 and 4, should be fitted with
faucet and short piece Of hose so that
they can be drawn directly into the
spray tank. The arsenate of lead may
be mixed and added while the tank Is
filling. By making in this way Bor-
deaux mixture is obtained whose me-
chanical condition is much better and
which stays in suspension much longer
than when made by turning the concen-
trated solutions directly into the large
volume of water. II the lime is lumpy
it will be best to strain 1t when 1t is
transferred from barrel No. 2 to barrel
No. 4, and the whole may we'll be run
through a fine wire strainer while the
spray tank is filling. Care should be
taken that the solutions are we'll stirred
in barrels l and 2 before any is taken
out. If the pipes for drawing water and
emptying the barrels are reasonably
large little time will be necessary for re-
filling the spray tank.-W. j. Kicker in
Maine Farmer.