Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-04-22

roses from blackspot and mildew
Perhaps one reason the home gar
dener is frightened whenever he
considers spraying fruit trees is
the bewildering array of commercial
preparations offered and also the
lack of simplicity of the average
spray calendar. The University of
Maryland Extension Service issues
a simple and concise spraying guide
most satisfactory for the home gar.
dener. Perhaps the program is not
100 per cent perfect, but most of us
are satisfied with a reasonable de-
gree of control. More important to
the home gardener, the ingredients
are simple and do not involve a
course in chemistry.
In common with all sound spray
programs the university recommends
an early spring application of dor
mant spray. This is to clean up
Overwhelming diseases and scale in
sects that may be injecting the trees
and bushes. This may be either a
lime sulphur spray or a miscible oil.
Because the lime sulphur is used in
the second spray and there is less
trouble keeping it in solution it is
generally preferred. A dormant spray
should be applied on warm sunny
day when the is little likelihood OF
the temperature dropping below
freezing for at least "a hours. Spray
the roses and ornamentalS with the
same spray.
When the apple blossoms show
pink at the tips second spray, the
so-called prepink spray, is recon-
mended. Use the lime sulphur in a
considerably more dilute solution
than was used for the dormant
spray. This is only for the apple
trees.
When the petals are falling freely
from the trees, the regular spray or
dust program is started. Using lead
arsenate, spray lime, and wettable
sulphur, adequate control of both
insects and diseases is insured on all
kinds of fruit trees. The lime is
highly important since it prevents
the lead from burning the foliage
of peaches and plums. During the
heat of the summer it is advisable to
spray in the evening since sulphur
may burn tender foliage when the
temperature is above 80 degrees.
This same combination and in the
same proportions is used for sue
ceeding applications but the inter-
val between sprays varies. On ap-
Piles and peaches three -Week inter-
val is recommended. On cherries.
plums and pears two-week inter-
val is suggested because of their
great susceptibility to brown-rot and
curculio. In the last spray the lead
arsenate is omitted since it is a
deadly poison
Sprays to be effective should be
applied in a fine mist that will give
thorough coverage without plaster
ing the leaf surface with a light
excluding coating 1t is impossible to
do effective spraying in a strong
wind, but there is nearly always a
period in the evening when spraying
can be done.
The spray should be directed to-
ward the undersides of the leaves,
where disease spores normally enter.
If the pressure in the spray tank is
high enough the mist will be driven
through the foliage and will give
good coverage on both surfaces, even
though directed toward the under
side of the foliage.
The choice of spray tanks of the
smaller size (3-gallon) is not easy.
The knap-sack type appeals to some.
The cylindrical type with a central
cylinder is more commonly used.
The bucket pump is another that is
widely used. However, the first con-
sheraton should be ease of opera
ton, durability and pressure pro-
duced. The cartridge type for use