FRUITGROWER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 163, 10 July 1914, Page 11

FRUITGROWER.

sPRAVIXi; DIRECTIONS FOR 'lilt-: MONTH.

liii* i* an important month so fnr as spraying is eomvrned. Such pests ns imis.«>l scale and red spidor, or rod mite, and to a certain extent, woolly aphis, are !>e?t treated while the trees an- dormant, for a stronger 'solution can he applied, and. in the absence of foliago. more thorough work can I*- accomplished. Then, again, with the first signs of spring will i-ome the spraying of gooseberries. strawlwrries, and .'tone fruits for the numerous fungus diseases which affect them. Let it again l>c impressed upmi growers (amateurs ill particular) the importance of doing the work thoroughly, and at the (strength herein recommended. It is useless going lo the expense of obtaining a good pump, good spray material, and wasting valuable labour unless it is applied efficiently. Kvery particle of wood should be covered from tip to trunk; this is best done by spraying from four sides of the tree—at radi point spraying the outside of the branch o * nearest to you. and putting the nozzle into the middle of the tree to cover the insides of the farthest branches. Start at the tip-top, working the jet of spray right down each branch and side branch, omitting not a pin point of space —for. should one mussel s«ile l>e left uncovered, the .-,fl to 1(1(1 eggs underneath will assuredly hatch out next spring, and that number of scale insects will be there to reinfect the tree. Mt'SSEt) SCALE. MEALY Bin. RED SPTDKR. AND WOOLLY APHIS. faction for the control of the above pests as the red oil emulsions, which should be applied when the trees arc quite dormant. Roughly, these may l>c divided into two classes —(1) the proprietary rea-dy-prepared red oil emulsions, and (2) the iiome-made red oil emulsions. PROPRIETARY EMULSIONS. These, such a* -Harbas." ■'Kill-all-scale." -Gargoyle.' , etc are red oils r «nrfered by particular processes into such a form'(.soluble oil i that they will m\x directly with cold water. Large quantities iif these have been sold during the last lew season-, and if applied carefully and at the correct strength, have been found quite effective. Tliew emulsion; are especially UJOftll to those who do not .are for'the trouble of emulsifying the oil themselves". They should" he diluted and applied when the trees nre quite dormant, at a. strength <>f about 1 part of emulsion to 12 parts of water. HOMII-MADK RED OIL EMU.SIONS. An emulsion of red oil may lie made by a number of methods, such as the making of a soluble oil. the cmulsifkation with soft soap in several different wave, or with hard soap. The more popular easier, and better way is as follows: Heat lib of soft soap in 1 gal-lo-t red oil until dissolved. When, cold place both ends of the spray pump into it ami start, it going, the while slowly adding linlf-a-gallon of cold water. Thoroughly ngitnto until a. thick rre.imy emulsion is produced, then add 11 g,llons cold water, and it is ready for u*e. One advanta<2- this method ha. over others is that when the sonp is dissolve.] in the oil ir. may then lx- kept a eonsider-tin-c before Itfing " ipi! - rh ' ,R moa " 8 th -» it can 1-e made rfnrlna wet days or other spare time, in readiness fi.r the busy plying r riod. thus obviat waMe of i valuable time .m spray.ng days the r.| ~,,1v needing the slow addiiu.n of water. I f f n- moments agiUtion a* mentioned h< ye md final dilution by adding 1-J Jart/rf wntfr t, every one p«rt of „:, -rr.iM; spravixo. (l ,,o,eV.erriec and the earlier floßerlng n | lim * warhrs- ne.t«rines. and »pri->t* i; , ,;,,;,,. graying wit W nU-r K-. ~,,1,i fiordeaiix Mivtiire ns the nnri- ;ire ";!,;„„,„ control .iirlj lr«f. die-b.cK ? t i Tcht- shot- hole, and other fungus lent blig'its. ■ • iU ! d rli»eases strn« t>prr, s . , ,t,c suwiiKT formula at regular ir .