STOKE FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 164, 9 July 1918, Page 6

STOKE FRUITGROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

♦ ORCHARD SPRAYING EXPERT ' MENTS. REPORT BY GOVERNMENT INSTRUCTOR. At the meeting of the Stoke Fruitgrowers' Association on Friday evening Mr W. C Hyde, Government Orchard I Instructor, presented a report on orchard spraying experiments in the season 1917-18, . as follows : The experiments decided oro by the Aisfeociation at its Auguste meeting., 1917, have been carried out lin: the orchards of Messrs T. C. G. Scott and H. Pickup ,of Stoke, and W. Lightbaud of Brightwater. They were as fol- J lows:— y ... j Lime-sulphur v. atomic su.phur a.= j an orchard fungicide and) insecticide for summer application. An. extension of the test of the previous season, when the relative merits of these sprays, as a cure for mildew, was itestted. . Blaok spot remedy.—(A) Bordeaux on Dougherty apple "trees to test the consistency of last year's results; (B) On difficult trees in a bad locality, i.e., heavy wet laud. (CI Soil dressing with Unie"; (D) Bluestone solution; (E) Fungus sprav (lime-sulphur or Bordeaux) t applied in early spring and followed immediately by* an application of red oil—does it save further fungus spraying? Napthalene lime-sulphur—a new insecticide and fungicide. . Orchard sanitation.—The object being to put to practical test the value of the recent recommendations of scientists. XT 1 Brown rot of peaches. —Is lime-sul-phur summer spraying safe and effectUnder these headings your committee has to report as follows: — Ipme-sulphur v. atomic sulphur as an orchard fungicide and insecticide for f-ummer application: This experiment was carried', out in the orchard of Mr Scott. Commercial lime-sulphur, 32deg. test, was applied to a large block of apple trees of many varieties including Sturmer, Dougherty and Jonathan. At the end of the dormant period it'was appMed ait a strength ot 190- when the blossom buds first show'ed colour, on 'October 9th, another application was made at a strength ot 150: a further application being made when the flower 'petals had fallen. (•November 2nd), .the formula being 1-100 • This spray was again applied! a fortnight later combined with arsenate of tea at the rate of 31bs to 100 ga<> lons of diluted spray mixture Alt the end of November lime-sulphur 1-IAJ plus arsenate of lead was applied., followed by an application on December 18th of 1-130 with arsennlte of lead. and on January 14th and 28th with lime-sulphur 1-150 with arsenate of lead. The spray was applied with a coarse "Hardie.", angle and ait a pressure at the gauge of 200lhs. !A similar blol'k of trees adjoining the above was sprayed with the same brand' of lime-sulphur on the occasion of the "dormant" ard "pink" spray, but when the'pet-as had fallen phur was applied at the rate of 12glbs to 100 gallons of water. At intervals ot two to three weeks, three further applications were made at the rate of 10 lbs atomic, sulphur .to 100 gallons water; and in January an application ot arsenate of lead only. . During the month of November black spot was bad on, the foliage of the Doughertys? in the block sprayed with atomic sulphur; the; same variety i« other sections was not affected. in is Jact caused some anxiety at the time. and the next application of altomic «U----phur was made at once .instead of waitin- for the usual interval. At *he «id of March also a slight attack of black «qjclt" was experienced on both sections, Sat was more marked on the section sprayed with atomic sulphur. Othej - wise the crop on these sections at the time of picking was bright and clear. ' of good colour, and free from stingy The foliage on the lime-sulphur section was in the better- condition and m some cases the fruit was brighter, 1 his experience endorses the conclusion arrived at as a result of our experiments, with these sprays, last season. Dealing with the matter of cost, atomic sulphur at ft* per lb and at 1-10 formula-cos** 7s Id per ICO gallons of spray, while limesulphur 32deg, at 2s per gal on. at 1-100 formula costs 2s. 3d per 100 gallons of eummer spray (samples of Iruit from each block submitted). BlWk spot -remedies.—(A) Bordeaux on Dougherty apple trees: This was again tested in the ■orchard. of Mr I SScrtt -On ithe 24th of September just as the buds were moving, Bordeaux —wintP" strength—B.6,4o, was applied. On TVS.-.ber 16th, when the blossom was half out. Bordeaux spray was aprilW ut a strenzth of 3.4.40. /V* b-fore stated this test was madto "■"«>'e the ' consistency of last years experience with Bordeaux on Dougherty apple trees and Chaumontel pears. When examined on November 9th, the trees spraved as above were found to ' be more forward than similar trees sprayed with Hme-sulphur, the extra Xour was very marked. The further staying of these trees was made with lime-sulphur, and on April the sth. It was found a good crop had been matured, without spot or russet, well coloured, and. a large percentage of 3inch r ruit. (Samples submitted). (B) On difficult trees in a bad locali : tv i.e., heavy wet land.—The experi ments with thus fungus which were found po successful in 1916-OT, were carried out under rather advantageous condition." -A .natural desire was felt that the same test should be repeated on a yrarietv of apple more susceptible to black spot, and in a locality where the soil wa«- heavier. Two rows ot fVurmer trees at the foot of a natural terrace in the orchard of Mr Pickup were selected for this season's experr'ment.' .These trees are nine years old arid very uneven in condition. By far the best row was sprayed with limesulphur throughout the reason. commencing on 13th September, when the trees were dormant, with lime-sulphur 32deg., 1-10: another application being given on October 11th. when the trees were opening their blossom, the formula being 1-60. The same strength ■wa- applied. wiith arsenate of lead added, on the 7th November, when the petals had fallen and the fruit set. A further application of limet-sulphur. 1-100 with arsenate of lead was given early in December, while two application* of arsenate of lead only were applied in January and February respectively. , . ~, A number of Sturmer trees an the ot!l£r row were sprayed on September ?.-'h the trees being dbimamib. wr.'lh Bordeaux 8.6.40. On the 17th October, the then being nearly out, lime-FU'lphur 32deg.. formula 1-50 was applied'. On the 12th November, the fruit having sat, lime-sulphur 1-ICO, wilth arsenate of lead, was and on .the sth December this application •was repeated. A couple of application* of arsenate of lead only were applied early in the New Year. The remainder of the Sturmer. trees in this second row ■were sprayed with bluestone 1-2 C on the 6th Sptember. the trees being dormant; fmthr applications being exactly ■similar to the preceding. •When inspected on the 6th November • after the "pink" .spray and when the' frtijt had about .set, all the trees referred" to under this headline were in good condition except two which had suffered froni water about the roots. A report. j« entered in the notes on December sth. Ot* May 13th. autumn

spot was found attacking the crop on these trees. It was decidedly worse on the trees sprayed with Lime-sulphur only. Otherwise the crop was heavy, of "moderate size, bright, weil coloured' and free from russet- (Samples of each submitted). (€) Soil dressing with lime.—The relation of soil aridity to the black spot fungn.s on apple trees growling therein, has been miK'h discussed'. The subjects of this experiment were Sturmer trees in Mr Pickup's orchard. The trees received the usual first two applications of lime-sulphur in spring, i.e., the dormant and pink spray. This was followed on the 4th of" October with a. dressing of air slaked lime—ls pounds —to each -tree : the remaining sprays, being arsenate of lead' only. The resutl of this treatment was quite unsatisfactory ; the black spot fungus was very bad on these 'trees. No doubt this suggestion would be given a fairer trial if the lime were applied over the entire surface of a rather large area, and verv much earlier in the season-.

(D) * Bluestone solution.—Sturmer trees in Mr Pickup's orchard were the subject of this test. On 6th September a dormant spray of bluestone 1.20 was applied. On. 15th October the trees were in, excellent condition, and the blossom opening, a spray was applied consisting of one pound of bluestone to 50 gallons of water. Two days later it was noticed the foliage was slightly burned., and oai November 6th. when inspected it was found the leaves had fallen badly, and only a small crop had set; the trees otherwise were looking well. It was decoded to reduce the strength of future applications. On November 12th an application of bluestone 1-100 was applied : on December sth it was found leaf dropping and fruit russeting was> so bad it was decided to abandon the experiment. At the endi of the season the trees looked very well and were carrying a small crop of bright, but ruseeted fruit. (Samples {submitted)!. {EI Fungus spray (lime-sulphur or Bordeaux) applied in early spring and followed immediately by an application, of red oil.—Much has been isaid regarding this combination. Among other things it is claimed' the fungicide will remain effective for a longer period, in that further application are unnecessary during the remainder of the season. Mr F. J. Hall carried out the following experiments' under tJuißi heading. They were inspected with him on December 7th. The trees dealt with were five year old Sturmers and all had received a dormant s.pSra.jl of Section 1 was sprayed, when the blossom was opening. wu'th bordeaux 8.6.40. immediately followed by emulsified red oil 1-60. At the time of inspection the trees carried tbreequavters of a case of clean well-developed fruit, although considerable ".spot" sihfowed won after the above application.. Section 2 was sprayed at the same period as the preceding, with bordeaux 3.4.40 immediately followed by oil 1.60. These trees were carrying a goodl clean crop, and impressed Mr Hall as the best of the experiments'. Section 3 was sprayed when about to blossom, with lime-sulphur 25degs. 1-40. immediately followed by red oil 1-60. When inspected some "spot" was showing, but the general condition was good. Section 4 consisted of trees which had i■ > "pink" spray, but were otherwise treated the same as the above. At the time of inspection a number of apples affected with black spot fungus were found on them. After the fruit had set black spot became so prevalent that a further spray of atomic sulphur, 31be to the 100 gallons of water, was applied to all the trees in the above* sections. Mr Hall wap. of the opinion the "calyx" spray could not be dispensed with, and no doubt the above experience points very strongly in that ! direcitiion. but further, trial is needed before the Question is decided. I (To be continued.)