SPRAYING DON'TS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 118, 24 June 1914, Page 11

SPRAYING DON'TS.

The following pithy advice is contained in one of the farmers' bulletins issued by the N.S.W. Department of Agriculture: — Don't fail to spray every season. It is impossible to determine in advance whether or not the tree -will be attacked. Proper spraying is never injurious. '' ' • : Don't fail to follow carefully "Spray Calendar" and formulas. If you do not, it would be better not to spray, as you are liable to do more damage than good. Don't wait till the fungi have attacked the plant or tree; the fungicides are merely preventives, and should be used early in the spring. After the disease has developed, it may be too late to save the plant. ~.''.''. ■ ' '' Don't spray during or just after a shower, or when there has been a heavy dew. Much of the solution will be washed off or it will collect in spots. Wait till;the leaves are dry. Poison is more effective when applied to the leaves when' 1, dry.' . Don't spray on top of the leaves only; spray the under where the, pests hide, and be particular to keep your liquid thoroughly/agitated. give up spraying because you do nof think you see any benefit from your work. Perhaps, ypu did not spray early "enough to .prevent the : damage; perhaps you' did hot use the right formula,.or were npt careful in its preparation.; ; . perhaps ypu did ,noi , spray thoroughly or' often enough. Try again. Don't buy a cheap sprayer. It will always be oufc of order. ,It will make the labour many times greater, and in the end will cost more, than a good one.

Don't buy a bucket sprayer and expect to spray an orchard with it. Buy a sprayer large enough to do your work quickly and easily. Don't put your sprayer away after using it until you have thoroughly cleaned out all the spraying mixture. If this is left in, the pump will be injured and the glands and valves clogged. Don't start out to spray, until you have carefully examined your sprayer to see that it is in good working order. Don't leave your sprayer where'it will' freeze, unless air the liquid has been drained from it. Ir" liquid has been frozen in the pump, it is liable to break iron cylinders or expand brass cylinders, so the' pump will not work. Don't spray only the trees . from which you' expect to get marketable fruit. Spray all. the trees, otherwise the trees you go to the trouble to t spray early ' in the season may become infected later by the uiisprayed trees. "An ounce of prevention ,is worth a pound of cure." , , .