Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1916 — HOW TO OBTAIN BIG APPLE CROPS [ARTICLE]

HOW TO OBTAIN BIG APPLE CROPS

Indiana Show Manager Explain* Spraying Methods in Talk to Growers. MUST WORK INTELLIGENTLY Says Some Misdeeds of Nature Cannot Be Oveccome; But Such Cases Ara Relatively Rare Materials Must Be Carefully Selected. Indianapolis.—At this season of the year Indiana oreliurdlsts ure looking back over their season's work and inquiring iuto the reasons for their success or fuiiuro to obtain a good crop of apples. During a recent talk with a few growers of southern Indiana, M. W. Richards, manager of the 1916 Indiana apple show, gave some good ideas of limy to’ study this question.

“Some misdeeds of nature,” he said, “the orchardist cannot control, such as the cold rains during the blooming period which destroyed the heavy crop promised northern Indiana last spring. Occasionally there will be such a severe epidemic of some disease, like the cedar apple rust, which has besieged the southern counties this year, that spruylng only checks, and does not stop entirely. But Buch ekses are relatively rare, and the man who, year after year, carefully and intelligently sprays his trees can bo counted on to come out with a nice balance on the usset side of Ills account book. Please notice that I said carefully and Intelligently, and I am not sure but that the Intelligent part Is the more Important. “I constantly urn finding the man who says he lias sprayed more and speut more money In caring for his orchard than his neighbor has, but the returns have always been Just reversed. The neighbor has consistently had lurger crops and more clean fruit. “The trouble with such men is that their whole scheme of management is wrong because they have failed to get a real ami useful understanding of why they spray with each material at a specified time. Among their main troubles may lie found one or more of the following causes: “Treatments are often made for incurable troubles —and no results cun possibly be expected. “Treatments are often given where there Is no need for them. Many persons who are Just starting the work get the idea that they must spray without regard to the presence of Insect or disease. “Expensive methods are often used In making spray materials nnd in the method of applying them. Many of the. cheaper methods cun be so managed that they give better results than the most cost ly. “The wrong time Is often chosen for applying sprays for special insects. The. fruit gfower. should have ut least a general Idea of the life history and habits of the insects vvhlcli lie is fighting. “The most common mistake is that of applying the wrong material for a special purpose,. Insects which chew the foliuge must be killed by covering the tree with a stomach poison. Insects which suck their food from the foliage must l*e killed by some material which will destroy them by contact. It is true that some spray materials do have both of these qualities combined but never to the most desirable degree for efficient work. “Spray materials of an inferior grade, are sometimes used because of thehr low price, (’are should lie taken to dealt witli only the responsible firms, nnd to buy their best grade of materials. “The spruy materials having been carefully made are too often improperly applied. High pressure is invuluable In obtaining penetration to the center of the tree. It is not necessary to overspray, but every limb, twig and leaf should be thoroughly covered. “If some of these most common mistakes ure guarded against, there is no. reason why more satisfactory results cannot be obtained in the spraying operations against insect pests. Local experience is really the sure guide for successful spraying operations.”

Typhoid Fever Epidemics. The state board of health sent a circular letter to physicians throughout Indiana discussing ways of dealing with typhoid fever epidemics. Methods of disinfecting are set out, continuance of the battle aguinst flies is advocated strongly, and methods of nursing patlents are outlined. The letter says that when a case appears that resembles typhoid fever, “it should be isolated and treated as such” until a diagnosis can be made. Notiflcation of the health ofllcer of such suspicious cases is necessary Immediately,, the letter points out. The best disinfectant is chloride of lime, the letter says.