Fruit-Tree Spraying.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1921, Page 1

Fruit-Tree Spraying.

USE OF LIME-SULPHUR URGED

NELSON, July 26.

Mr George Heatherbell, a Tasmanian orchardist, who has settled in Nelson, writes the following to the “Mail” :

Having in mind the great importance of spraying and doing it to get the best results, also knowing from long experience in fruitgrowing in different countries the very great importance of having clean fruit, it appears to me that the lime-sulphur tree spray and its general good qualities are not understood and appreciated as much as they should he by fruit-growers in New Zealand. Being among the first to use it in British Columbia, when first brought into use as a tree spray (in the early ’nineties), perhaps a word or two from me at this time may possibly help some grower to dean up his orchard “and put his house in order.” as it were, for the coming season. Having used limesulphur for very many years, I am'quite convinced that it will do much towards getting the trees into a good healthy condition, as well as laying the foundation for a clean, smooth-skinned crop of fruit. With your kind permission I will give half a dozen good reasons for using lime-sulphur, winter strength, one gallon to leu gallons of water, commercial solution, testing 32 to SSdeg. Baume test, because it can he put on the trees then without any fear of doing any harm to dormant trees; because it will do more good at that time to clean up a badly-infested orchard than any other one spray; because Professors Melandcr and Cord ley, of Oregon (“Corvallis”) Agricultural College, proved that it was doing more good six weeks after it was put on than in six days; because ii kills pests in the egg stage; because the Government ot British Columbia made it compulsory to spray with lime-sulphur, winter strength, for scale of any kind over twenty years ago; because sulphur is the host practical remedy for powdery mildew, and the earlier it is put on the better the results. 1 may add that in British Columbia we did not take any chances by waiting to use it summer strength. The Lost commercial limesulphur leaves absolutely no sediment at the bottom of the barrel.