SUGGESTIONS ON SPRAYING. 



The expediency of spraying plants has already passed the experi- 

 mental stage. The fact of its value has been too thoroughly and too 

 ofien demonstrated to permit any doubts concerning the advisability 

 of such an operation ; yet there is much to be learned about spraying. 

 'i'iie fact, however, that ii pays to spray does not seem to be so fully 

 appreciated by fruit growers and others as it ought to be ; so the first 

 f)art of this bulletin is intended not so much for the purpose of record- 

 ing new facts as to emphasize and reiterate a few fundamental prin- 

 ciples upon which successful spraying depends. 



During the first few years after spraying began to receive attention 

 in this country, the efforts directed thereto resulted in setting forth the 

 fundamentals of the operation, together with extensive trials of appa- 

 ratus and materials. The experience of the past two years or so, while 

 fruitful of much that is valuable, has not propounded new principles 

 and perhaps fewer spraying materials have been introduced and less 

 apparatus invented than for some years previous ; but much apparatus 

 already on the markets has been improved and perfected so that 

 advancement in this direction has been considerable. It would seem 

 now that most of the progress in spraying must be along the lines 

 of improved materials and perfected apparatus. 



Some remarks on spraying materials. — In regard to new insecticides 

 and fungicides a word of caution is not out of place. Many of* these 

 materials are recommended for almost every disease to which plants 

 are subject. By this we do not v/ish to be understood to say that the 

 compounds, such as those in question, are necessarily worthless; on 

 the other hand, many of them have a place, and in that place they are 

 good, yet the sweeping recommendations of many of them are mis- 

 leading. 



We are frequently asked concerning substitutes for Paris green. 

 Ansenite of lime is doubtless one of the cheapest and safest compounds 

 which can readily be obtained. The basis of this insecticide is white 

 arsenic, or " arsenic " as it is more commonly called. In the Mich- 



