The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-05-29


prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
Summer spraying of apples in the
home orchard is particularly impor-
tant this year with all food products
on rising market. Under the present
unusual conditions, when it is desirable
to save staple foods and reduce the
labor expended in producing foods,
special attention should be given to the
fruit already planted on practically
every farm and on many city lots, say
the experts of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture.
There are few farms that do not
have a few fruit trees, and in many
cases the disable fruit does not pay
rent on the ground the trees occupy;
not because the trees are barren nor
because they are of worthless varieties,
but through neglect of the owner to
spray.
Spraying has been so often con-
sidered by the uninitiated a complex
and expensive operation that many
farmers have decided to trust in Provi-
dence for their fruit crop and leave
the growing of worthless and disease
free fruit to the commercial fruit
grower. This not only deprives the
family of the necessary diet elements
found in fruit, but means paying high
prices for food to take the place of
the fruit that might easily be grown.
Spray materials and methods have
been so simplified in the last few years
that it is neither difficult nor expen-
sive to spray the few trees on the
home place. Spray mixtures may be
SO combined that several diseases and
insect pests are reached with the one
application.
The summer applications are par
ticularly important where clean, sound
apples that will keep in storage for
winter use are desired.
Summer Spray Schedules.
The first summer spray should be
put on just before the blossoms open.
This is for the plum curcuIio, the bud
moth, case bearers, the tent caterpil-
lar, cankerwOrms and apple scab. Use
IL gallons of 1ime-sulphur solution to
each so gallons of water. Add to this
2 pounds Of arsenate of lead paste. If
apple aphids or apple red bugs are
much in evidence, add II pint of 40
per cent nicotine sulphate.
The second spray must be applied as
soon as the blossoms fall. 1t controls
the same diseases and insects as the
first summer spray, and in addition,
the cooling moth and leaf-spOt. Use
the same mixture.
This is the most important applica-
ton for both the apple scab and the
codling moth, so that careful and
thorough work must be done if scab-
free and worthless apples are desired.
Failure to do thorough spraying at
this time for the codling moth cannot
be remedied by future applications.
Apply the spray with sufficient force to
drive it into the calyx end of each
little apple.
For the third application use the
same mixture three to four weeks after
the blossoms fall, unless apple blotch
has been prevalent in former years. In
the latter case, use Bordeaux mixture
(3-4-5O formula) not less than three
weeks after the blossoms have fallen.
This is the second treatment for cod
ling moth and leaf-spot, and gives fur
tier protection against apple scab and
some insects.
For the fourth spray use Bordeaux
mixture (2-45O) with arsenate of lead
added, eight to nine weeks after the
petals fall. This controls the bitter
rot, and the arensicaI added gets the
second brood Of the codling moth. If
the bitter rot has been serious in for
mer years this application should be
advanced about one week.
In ordinary seasons, especially in the
more northern apple-growing sections,
SOur applications will be sufficient to
protect the fruit from the various in
sects and diseases mentioned. In the
central states, where blOtch and bitter
rot are prevalent, two more applica-
tons will be necessary for fall and
winter apples. In the case Of summer
apples only the first three applications
are necessary.
TWO More Sprays.
If conditions make more spraying
necessary to insure good fruit, apply
a fifth application two to three weeks
after the fourth. This is the second
application for bitter rot. Use Bor-
deaux mixture. Since little extra ex-
pense comes from adding arsenate of
lead, this may be proftably done as
further insurance against late-appear-
ing larvae OF the codling moth.
The sixth spray is a further treat