VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



retained its foliage in good shape well through September and yielded 

 over 1,200 bushels of marketable potatoes with practically no rot. 



No unsprayed rows were left in this field, but in a smaller one on 

 higher but somewhat heavier soil, records were obtained. This field was 

 planted with the Green Mountain variety about May first, and given one 

 thorough application of bordeaux mixture on August 10. The plots 

 were dug September 24. The unsprayed tops had been dead for some 

 two weeks, while at least fifty percent, of the foliage was still alive on 

 the sprayed tops. The sprayed and unsprayed portions were carefully 

 selected with a view to uniformity. Each lot consisted of four rows 

 fifty-eight feet long. The total yields calculated in bushels to the acre 

 are as follows: Sprayed, 392 bushels per acre; unsprayed. 285 bushels 

 per acre; an increase in total yield as a result of spraying of 107 bushels. 



This gain was not as large as it has been in seasons when the blight 

 has come earlier and progressed more rapidly. On the other hand, un- 

 der such conditions two or even three sprayings are required to pre- 

 serve the foliage until the maturing of the crop. The gain ^f 124 

 bushels per acre as the result of a single timely spraying represents a 

 larger gain in proportion to the cost than we have heretofore recorded. 

 We learned of cases where potato growers sprayed their plants twice 

 this season in July and secured but little benefit for the simple reason 

 that by the time the blight was destructive, the latter half of August, 

 their plants were unprotected. Our experience again serves to em- 

 phasize sharply the point we have repeatedly made, that in order to 

 spray most profitably a man must know what he is spraying for, watch 

 his crop and spray intelligently as well as thoroughly. To paraphrase 

 the old saying, a spray in time saves the crop. Timeliness is an im- 

 portant factor in success. That it pays richly to use thoughtfulness, 

 thoroughness and timeliness may be judged from the cumulative data 

 showing the results from thirteen consecutive seasons' work at this 

 station. These figures speak for themselves. 



GAINS FROM USE OF BORDEAUX MIXTURE ON LATE POTATOES. 



Variety 



White Star. 



Polaris 



White Star 



Average 3 var. 

 Delaware 



Green Mount 



Planted 



Mav 

 May 

 May 

 Apr. 

 May 

 May 

 June 

 Mav 

 May 

 May 

 Mav 

 May 

 May 



1691 



1892. 

 1893. 

 1894. 

 1895. 

 1896 

 1897. 

 is: is 

 1899. 

 1900. 

 11101 

 1902 

 1903. 



Sprayed 



Aug. 26, Sept. 8 



July 30, Aug. 13. 25 



Aug. 1 16, 29 



June 1(3, July IT, Aug. 30. 



July 25 Aug. 13, 31 



Aug. 7. 21 



July 27, Aug. 17, 28 



Julv 21, Aug, 10 



July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 8.. 



Aug 4, 23 



Julv 20, August 21 



Aug, 1. 20 



Aug. 10 



Averages for thirteen years 



Yield per Acre 



Where 

 Sprayed 



313 bu. 

 291 bu. 

 338 bu. 

 32S bu. 

 3>9 bu. 

 325 bu 

 151 bu. 

 2::s bu. 

 229 bu. 

 286 bu. 

 170 bu. 

 298 bu. 

 3(51 bu. 



28!'. bu. 



Where not 

 Sprayed 



2-18 bu. 

 99 bu. 



111 bu. 

 251 bu. 

 219 bu. 

 257 bu. 



80 bu. 



112 bu. 

 101 bu. 

 225 bu. 



54 bu. 

 164 bu. 

 237 bu. 



171 bu. 



Gain 

 per 

 Acre 



65 bu. 

 192 bu. 

 224 bu. 



77 bu. 

 170 bu. 



08 bu. 



71 bu, 

 126 bu. 



O.s bu. 



00 bu. 

 110 bu. 

 131 bu 

 124 bu. 



115 bu. 



