The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-02-24
POSSIBILITIES OF
COMBINATION SPRAYS
(By Leroy Childs) .

For the past three or four years
combination sprays. especially in the
use of combinations with the oil spray
used for the control of the leaf roller
have been under observation by the
Hood River Station. Among these
combinations have been tried the oil at
leaf roller strength e gallons of oil to
| 100 gallons of water) lime sulphur So
| luton, atomic sulphur and flowers of
| sulphur and Bordeaux Mixture. The
work was outlined and carried on
| largely for two reasons: First, to de-
termine if it were possible to cut down
| the cost of labor and material by com
bining sprays and, secondly, to in
crease the efficiency of the materials
involved. The miscible oil spray is
not considered fungicidal in nature and
in order to give it the properties of a
fungicde as well as that of an insecti-
eide the various ingredients mentioned
above have been added and tested out.
The combination of atomic sulphur and
flowers of sulphur with the oil has not
been effectively accomplished. The
sulphur "churned OUT, due to agita-
ton, into small butter-like balls caus-
ing much trouble and clogging of the
pumps. The lime sulphur solution and
the Bordeaux have been found to read
lily mix.
AS fungicides these combinations
have been used chiefly for two pur.
poses First, to be used in the de-
layed dormant in the place Of the lime
sulphur solution alone for the purpose
of controlling the leaf roller and as
first scab spray; the idea being that
one spray combined would accomplish
the same purpose as the two sprays
applied separated. Second, in view
of the fact that the oil spray appeared
to be a fairly good "sticker" to deter
mine if these various sulphur and Bor-
deaux combinations would persist on
the trees from spring until fall and
prove of benefit in the control of
anthracnose.
information with reference to this
experimental work is far from COM
plete at the present time. However.
a few outstanding phases of the work
appear to be very interesting and
would doubtless be of interest to grow
ers in general. 1t has been fairly we'll
determined that the sulphur-oil COM
binations do not persist sufficiently
long as to be of any benefit in control
plications). 1t has also been observed
that all combinations, especially the
sulphur and the Bordeaux combinations
haSt caused more severe burning of
the foliage in the delayed dormant ap-
plication than where oil was used
alone. AS far as our work goes it ap-
pears that these combinations can not
be used with safety after the foliage |
has started.
Probably the most interesting re-
suits obtained thus far. however, are
with the Bordeaux-oil combinations |
used with and without glue in both the |
spring and fall applications. This |
work has been in part similar to that |
discussed by DIR. Z. A. Macrum last |
year. 1t is still too early to tell what |
the outcome of these tests will be with |
reference to the control of anthracnose. |
Tests carried on during the past two |
years indicate that the combintion does |
not reduce the efficiency of the oil |
from the standpoint of leaf roller con |
troll for which the oil spray is primar-
lily used in Hood River. Chemical |
tests are being made by R. II. Robin |
son, of the department of chemistry. |
from branches cut from time to time |
from the different plots in order to
determine the weathering qualities and |
persistance of the copper IN the differ
ent plots. The last analysis received |
from the chemist was from cuttings |
made December !, the spray having
been on the trees eight months and |
subjected to more than normal rain
fall. The per cent of copper present.
though quite small, may be sufficient
to produce the results desired. The
amount of copper on the twigs, applied
in the form of a spray, needed for the
control of anthracnose is not known at
the present time, and it is hoped that
this may be determined during the
course of this study.
Before the oil application is due for
leaf roller control some suggestions
will be made for experimental trials
at least of the BOrdeaux-0il oombina-
tions. This recommendation will be
based on the results of further chemi-
cal analyses now under way.
: 1t will take another year at least to
check up on the possibilities
and on the merits. of the Bordeaux oil
At the present time,
results appear extremely encouraging
aid if the spray proves as good as it
appears, anthracnOse control will be
greatly simplfed. Further informa-
tion will be given out before the spray
ing season arrives.