REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



SPRAYING CUCUMBERS IN THE SEASON 



OF 1898.* 



F. A. SlREINB AND F. C. STEWART. 



SUMMAHY. 



Downy mildew is the chief cause of the recent poor crops of late 

 cucumbers in southeastern New York. Anthracnose has also 

 been destructive in some seasons. 



In 1896 the Station made an experiment which showed that the 

 greater part of the damage from downy mildew can be prevented 

 by spraying seven times with Bordeaux mixture. • 



An experiment made in 1897 showed that when an entire field 

 is sprayed the downy mildew can be wholly prevented. In this 

 experiment a yield of 101,960 merchantable pickles per acre was 

 "obtained. 



In a second experiment in 1897, on early cucumbers, the yield 

 was increased at the rate of 30,450 fruits per acre, having a weight 

 of 12,405 pounds. 



During the season of 1898 cooperative spraying experiments on 

 late cucumbers were conducted in four different localities on Long 

 Island; viz.: at Greenlawn, Deer Park, Smithtown Branch and 

 Mattituck. In each case an entire field was sprayed. At Green-, 

 lawn the sprayed field contained 1.5 acres sprayed seven times with 

 Bordeaux mixture (l-to-8 formula); at Deer Park, 2 acres sprayed 

 eight times; at Smithtown Branch, 2.15 acres sprayed seven times; 

 and at Mattituck, 2 acres sprayed five times. 



Reprint of Bulletin No. 156. 



