Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

D. R. WATERS, SPRING LAKE. Farmers who grow fruit and vegetables have been seeking earnestly for some protection against frosts in the fall and spring. So far no device or plan affording this protection has been found satisfactory. The loss by frosts every year makes an immense aggregate running into the millions. Smudges of smoke […]

KEROSENE EMULSION. Place two gallons of ordinary kerosene in a warm place, either in a warm room or in the sun, and allow to become as warm as possible without danger from fire. Boil one pound of laundry soap or whale oil soap in a gallon of soft water until completely dissolved. Remove the soap […]

PROF. C. P. HALLIGAN, EAST LANSING. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : I understand from this question of “spraying and winter protection” to be applied more especially to a young orchard, and so I feel that there is not so very much to say. Perhaps that is why the topic was assigned to me. I […]

For Insects That Chew. ARSENATE OF LEAD. This poison is used very extensively. It can be secured for reason-able price, is ready to use at any time, does not easily injure the foliage and is the only poison that can be safely used in the lime-sulphur sprays. Injury to tender foliage like the peach has […]

STRONG LIME-SULPHUR. Strong lime-sulphur to be used on dormant trees or bushes for scale insects, can be prepared in three ways : By the old formula, By reducing with water “the home-made” concentrated wash. By reducing with water the “commercial” concentrated wash. The “Old formula” has been used for many years with good results and […]

FOR THE POTATO SCAB. Soak the uncut tubers for two hours in 30 gallons of water and one pint of formalin (can be secured of any drug-gist). This solution can be used several times. Do not put treated tubers back into crates or bags that held scabby potatoes. Make the treatment only a few days […]

Examine the young plants before setting them. Pick off all discolored or diseased leaves. If root lice are suspected, dip the roots in strong tobacco water. After the growth starts, spray with Bordeaux and a poison to prevent the leaf spot and to destroy the leaf-roller insect that may be present. For fruiting plantations, spray […]

CUT OUT THE FRUIT BEARING canes after the last picking has been made. This will lessen insect and disease troubles that may be harbored on the old canes and allow more room for the growth of the new canes. ORANGE RUST may appear in May or June. It is easily identified by the bright orange […]

San Jose and European fruit scale are often found upon these bushes. Inspect carefully for them. If found, spray before growth starts with strong lime-sulphur. JUST AS THE LEAVES ARE ‘EXPANDING, spray with dilute lime-sulphur or Bordeaux and two pounds of arsenate of lead to every fifty gallons. REPEAT this spraying when the fruit is […]

Grape vines are not often subject to attacks by scale insects so there is seldom need for a spraying with strong lime-sulphur before growth starts. Do not use the dilute lime-sulphur at any time for grape spraying. It stunts or checks the growth of the berries. Use the Bordeaux mixture. DOWNY MILDEW commonly called “Red […]