132 NEBRASKA STATE HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



in a general way, still spraying orcliards on the present scale 

 for insects and fungus diseases may be said to have had its 

 rise practically within the last two decades. 



As compared witli other phases of orchard inanagement, 

 then, spraying is a new art. While in its primitive form this 

 practice is approximately a quarter of a century old, it is so 

 rapidly being improved and perfected that spraying mixtures 

 and methods of five years ago are, for the most part, now 

 antiquated. 



Probably never in the history of agriculture have so many 

 men been engaged in research and practical experimentation 

 upon any single agricultural problem, as have been working 

 in our experiment stations, in the Department of Agriculture 

 at Washington during the last two decades upon subjects re- 

 lating to spraying. 



A host of workers are now giving attention, for at least a 

 part of their time, to some kind of scientific work which has 

 to do with spraying. Trained botanists are working out the 

 life histories of parasitic fungi in order that we may better 

 know how to combat them, and are also studying the effects 

 of spray mixtures upon the physiological functions of the 

 plants. Equally skilled entomologists are studying the life 

 histories and feeding habits of insects in order that we may 

 better know when and how to spray for them. They are like- 

 wise engaged in a vigorous consideration of parasites and 

 other enemies of these insects which are sometimes success- 

 fully introduced to hold the insects in control. Chemists are 

 finding out more about the active agents in our spray mix- 

 tures, and are investigating means of neutralizing the caustic 

 effects of spraying compounds not already perfected. The 

 field working horticulturists of almost every experiment sta- 

 tion, and many in the U. S. Department of Agriculture, are 

 carrying on field experiments in order to reduce to commer- 

 cial working practice the application of spraying. The up- 

 to-date orchardist is working vigorously hand in hand with 

 the«e scientific workers to apply in his own orchard princi- 



