90 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



the pear blight. It is often the case that a disease attacks 

 only the underground portion of the plant. It is clear that a 

 disease of this nature could not be prevented or controlled by 

 spraying. Potato scab is an example of diseases of this kind. 

 In short, it is only those fungous diseases that originate from 

 spores on the above-ground portions of plants that may be pre- 

 vented by spraying. 



WILL IT PAY TO SPRAY? 



Whether it will or will not pay to spray must depend upon 

 circumstances. It is of prime importance to know whether 

 the plants under consideration are subject to diseases that 

 may be prevented by spraying. If so, and the crop is worth 

 raising at all, it is worth bringing to the highest possible 

 state of perfection, and it is now well known that spraying, 

 if properly done, is one of the important factors in perfect 

 crop production. However, unless one makes up his mind to 

 use all possible pains in the preparation of fungicides, to be- 

 gin spraying early and to carry it on persistently, the time, 

 labor and money expended will be lost. On the other hand, 

 if the fungicide is properly prepared and the work is timely 

 and thorough, it is probable that no equal amount of labor 

 and money expended will yield larger returns, taking it year 

 in and year out. This statement has been demonstrated many 

 times by farmers, gardeners, and fruit growers in nearly every 

 section of the state. It is true that certain seasons are un- 

 favorable for the development of fungi, but it rarely happens 

 that they do not develop to some extent ; hence it will be an 

 advantage to spray even during such seasons. Experience 

 has shown that it pays to spray systematically and thoroughly, 

 year after year, regardless of the season. • 



