§ 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.