So AGRRLXTLRE OF MAINE. 



SPRAYING DEMONSTRATIONS FOR I913. 



Dormant Spraying. 



Demonstrations this spring were similar to those of 1912 

 and have tended to encourage many growers in sections where 

 Httle or no spraying has been done heretofore. It has been the 

 aim of the Department to carry these demonstrations into sec- 

 tions previously neglected in order that the results may be 

 general rather than local and that the standard of the state 

 may be increased. 



We have been fortunate thus far in being invited to orchards 

 where proper methods of pruning and spraying can be fully 

 exemplified and in meeting men who have the necessary energy 

 and enthusiasm, but who lack in knowledge of detail. Such 

 men have carried on and no doubt will continue to carry on 

 the work as it has been explained to them and in a short time 

 will encourage others in their immediate vicinity to do like- 

 wise. For the first set of demonstrations, 24 invitations were 

 accepted and meetings were held in 19 of the 24 orchard'^. 

 Three meetings were prevented by rain, one by small-pox and 

 one by a funeral. Total attendance was 540, making the aver- 

 age attendance 28. The smallest meeting was at Sorrento with 

 II present. The largest was at Springfield with 100 present. 

 Three hundred and sixty-three trees were sprayed at a total 

 cost of $14.50 for materials, making the average cost of a tree 

 four cents, not including the labor. The fact that this is large i 

 than last year is due to the increased number of large trees. 

 The greatest number of trees sprayed at one meeting was 40; 

 smallest, 8. In the latter case, no time could be devoted to 

 pruning and the trees while not excessively large, were very 

 thick and contained many dead limbs. In detail, the data of the 

 meetings are : 



