The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-04-15
BY H. L. REEFS, Plant Pathologist.


THE annual Spring spraying during
the dormant season Is the one which
the owner of a home or commercial
orchard is liable to be rather careless
about. Spraying must be done at the
right time and very thoroughly to make
it successful and profitable. The fault or
habit of putting it off" when applied to
spraying, causes more loss and dissatis-
faction than any other factor. Everything
should be ready in ample season, so that
when the proper time to spray arrives the
work can be done Immediately. Fungi
and insects do not wait for the tardy fruit
grower. While he is hunting up pumps,
n~Ozzles, hose and sprays, and preparing
them for use, the pests keep right on de-
veloping, growing and spreading damage
and death. When finally the procrastin-
ating grower is ready to spray he finds
the pests so thoroughly intrenched that
at the most he can only succeed in de-
stroying a part of them. His delay has
removed his chances to prevent or eradi-
cate these pests, whereas prompt and
vigorous action on his part at the right
time would have assured a healthy and
unaffected crop.
In the April, 1914, Monthly Bulletin,
two comprehensive articles on sprays,
spraying and spraying machinery were
published, and while the points and facts
noted there are still true in the main. this
article is published at this time to remind
the growers that it Is necessary to take
steps Immediately to combat the orchard
pests if they are to be kept under control
this Summer. To successfully combat any
pest there are four essential problems
which must be settled first before spray
ing is begun.
/. What is the pest against which we
are working?
2. What spray should be used?
3. When should the spray be applied?
4. Will the available equipment apply
the spray efficiently and economically?
Reasons for Failure.
When these questions have been salts
~factorily answered and the proper equip
ment provided, the grower is ready to
spray. Many growers fail because of the
lack of attention to these problems. Prob
ably the most failures result from one Of
the following points:
/. Use of the wrong spray.
2. Spraying at the wrong time.
8. Lack of necessary pressure.
4. Lack of thoroughness in applying
spray.
The use of the wrong spray or improper
methods in mixing or diluting spray will
render it valueless. Likewise the appli-
cation of it too soon or too late will not
give the desired results. The necessary
amount of pressure needed is usually
overlooked by the grower. As long as he
has enough to send the spray a few feet
distant from the nozzle he may think that
that is sufficient, regardless of its pene-
trating power. 1t must be remembered
that a single cylinder hand pump of any
kind must be worked energetically and
faithfully to give the desired results. The
nozzle is probably given the least thought
and yet It's Importance is considerable.
Without going into a discussion of the
relative merits of the different ~nozzles,
suffice 1t to say that the large chambered
disc nozzle is the best. Then finally there
is the personal element. With every other
condition right, absolute failure may re-
suit from carelessness in the method Of
applying or lack of thoroughness.
AS stated before the annual Spring
spraying is one about which the growers
are inclined to be careless; but which is
important. The horticultural law of the
State of Washington requires a Spring