268 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



actual profits in potato spraying under ordinary farm conditions." The 

 total area thus treated in cooperation was GI1/2 acres sprayed in six 

 experiments in different parts of New York. The total increase in yield 

 due to spraying with Bordeaux Mixture was 3,746 bushels, or an aver- 

 age of 61.21 bushels per acre. The increase at the time of digging was 

 worth |1,873; the total expense of spraying was $296.49, giving a clear 

 profit, due to spraying, of |1,576.51, or |25.77 per acre. 



In 1904 the work of the Geneva Station in potato spraying was con- 

 tinued and more cooperative business experiments were arranged;* also, 

 a large number of volunteer experiments were reported to the Station 

 by farmers. 



"In fourteen! farmers' business experiments, including 180 acres, the 

 average gain due to spraying, was 6214 bushels per acre; the average 

 cost of spraying |4.98 per acre ; and the average cost for each spraying, 

 93 cents per acre; and the averfige net profit, based on the market price 

 of potatoes at time of digging. $24.86 per acre." 



"In forty-one farmers' volunteer experiments, including 363% acres, 

 the average gain due to spraying was 581/2 bushels per acre. In twenty- 

 three of these experiments the average total cost of spraying was |3.91 

 per acre; the average cost for each spraying, 90 2-3 cents; and the net 

 profit, based on the market price of potatoes at time of digging, |22.01 

 per acre." 



It would seem fitting to record the results of one of these business 

 experiments and the one chosen is known as "The West Henrietta Ex- 

 periment." (For details see N. Y. Expt. Sta. Bui. No. 264, pp. 121-124.) 

 The potato field used in this experiment was owned by Mr. Kobert 

 Dunn of West Henrietta, N. Y., and was composed of 12 acres. This 

 field was sprayed eight times. Three rows through the middle of the 

 field were left unsprayed. At digging time the center one of these 3 

 rows was dug separately, as were also the second rows of the sprayed 

 potatoes on either side of the unsprayed ones. The yield of the unsprayed 

 row was compared with the average yield of the two sprayed rows. 

 The unsprayed row yielded at the rate. 184 bu. 44 lbs. per acre, while 

 the sprayed rows yielded at the rate of 314 bu. 43 lbs. per acre, making 

 the increase due to spraying 130 bushels per acre. At time of digging 

 the market price of potatoes was 50 cents per bushel, so the increased 

 yield per acre was worth $65. The cost of spraying was $4.89 per acre, 

 leaving a net profit of $60.11 per acre, or $721.32 for the 12 acres. 



Mr. Dunn calculated his expense as follows: 



400 lbs Copper Sulphate, at 6c $24 00 



8 bu. Lime, at 25c 2 00 



14 lbs. Paris Green (for bugs), at 15c 2 10 



80 hrs. labor for man, at 15c 12 00 



80 hrs labor for team, at 15c 12 00 



Interest and wear on sprayer 6 60 



Total cost of spraying 12 acres 8 times $58 70 



Average cost per acre per application 61 



'* See N. Y. Expt. Sta. Bull. No. 264. 

 t.Taken.from N. Y. Expt. Sta. Bull. No. 264, p. 97- 



