MAINE AGRICULTURAL e;xpi;rimi;nt station. 293 



made in comparison with the results obtained from the Sta- 

 tion's experimental work in potato spraying have shown that the 

 bordeaux mixture used on many farms was improperly made 

 and not applied at the proper time. Almost without exception 

 potato spraying as practiced by the average potato grower 

 lacked in thoroughness. Usually only one spray nozzle is used 

 for each row of potatoes, applying but 50 gallons of spray per 

 acre. With the rows 32 inches apart and the plants 12 inches 

 apart in the row this means that one pint of liquid must cover 

 41 plants, or over 100 square feet of surface when the plants 

 cover the ground. 



There is much need for demonstration work in various parts 

 of the State to show the farmers what has been done and what 

 can be done in the way of efficient disease control, when the 

 proper methods are used and properly applied. In fact there is 

 probably as much immediate need for this sort of practical work 

 as there is for research upon plant disease problems, although 

 the latter should be of greater permanent value. However, no 

 matter how great the need for demonstration work along the 

 lines mentioned, the Station is not allowed to use the funds 

 available for plant disease studies to carry on work of this 

 nature, except to test under field conditions the conclusions 

 drawn from laboratory studies. The funds available are from 

 the National Government and it is expressly stipulated that 

 they shall be used for original research and experimentation. 



IDENTllflCATlON OF PLANT DISEASES. 



One of the important lines of pathological work now being 

 carried on at the Station is the study of the prevalence and dis- 

 tribution of the different diseases of economic plants within the 

 State. This work is being done in cooperation with the Bureau 

 of Plant Industry of the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture, and the Station pathologist is supplied with printed ship- 

 ping tags which will carry packages of diseased plants v.-ithout 

 prepayment of postage, and which can be furnished to those 

 who will send specimens. This is an important line of work 

 and its success depends upon the cooperation of the farmers of 

 the State. An increasing number are sending in such speci- 

 mens each year and it will greatly increase the efficiency of the 



