TlIK J^UIJ.KTJN. 



71 



from it, and tliereby cause iU disease. To [.reveiit tlie inroads of sucii enemie!- 

 man resorts to the use of suitable jioisons to spray upon or otlierwise to apply 

 to his plants, and thus to i<iil tlie invading; fungi or bacteria. Wherever fruit 

 or truelv crops are raised eoniiiiorcially wo now find that spraying forms pari 

 of the care of tlie crop just as much as does tillage, pruning and fertilizing. 

 Spraying is a necessity to the profitable growth of these plants. ]\Iany people 

 object to the idea of spraying, saying that their giandfathers could raise abun- 

 dant good fruit without spraying. This may be true, but we of to-day can not 

 do it. Diseases have increased in number. .Many have been imported into 

 this country from foreign countries. Diseases which prevailed in only one or a 

 few States now spread over the whole United States. Diseases which were 

 formerh' trifling in injury have increased to be very injurious, so that the crop 

 producer of to-day must face the fact that to raise profitable crops he must take 

 steps to prevent plant diseases. In many instances an outlay of a few cents^ 

 gives a return of several dollars. Orchards entirely useless are frequently made 

 productive by proper treatment. Every farmer should gain knowledge concerning 

 the chief diseases of his crops, and should equip himself to fit them. 



SOME COMMON DISEASES. 



Oat Smut. — Oat smut, often called black-heads, is the cause of more loss than 



Actiuil count of smutted plants in the field 



is generally recognized by the farmer 



Fig. 147 — Smut (uxtilago avenue' on (lats. 



frequently shows a loss of from 10 to 40 per cent of total crop. The only way 

 to know just how much one is losing from oat smut is to go into the field and 

 carefully examine it. The smutted plants are often low and escape casual observa- 



