§ 169-a. Spraying fruit trees or crops with poison. Any person who
sprays with or applies in any way poison or any poisonous substance to
fruit trees or any alfalfa and clovers grown as field crops while in
blossom, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less
than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars for each offense except as
hereinafter provided.

The commissioner of agriculture and markets may, after public hearing,
permit the use of specific materials for fruit blossom thinning sprays
during the current year. The provisions of this section shall not
prevent the New York State College of Agriculture and the Agricultural
Experiment Station at Geneva from conducting experiments in the
application of poisons and spraying mixtures to fruit trees while in
blossom.