11 March, 1918.] Vineyard Sprai/ing. 141 



VINEYARD SPRAYING. 



By F. de Castella, Government ViticuJturist. 



Consternation has arisen in the minds of many of our vine-growers 

 as the result of the grave damage recently caused by Downy Mildew in 

 many of our vineyards — nor is this to be wondered at, seeing that this, 

 our first invasion, has been an exceedingly virulent one. To make matters 

 worse, it was not hindered to any extent by protective spraying. Owing 

 to long immunity from fungus diseases, our vine-growers were quite 

 inexperienced concerning spray mixtures and their mode of application, 

 hence the feelings, almost amounting to dismay, with which advice to 

 spray was very generally received. Xot so with our orchardists, for 

 whom spraying has long since been a necessary evil, or, more correctly, 

 a compulsory insurance. The experience of a good many years has 

 proved to them that, in the absence of protective sprays, a payable fruit 

 crop is not to be relied on. 



Henceforth, however, vine-growers will have to fall into line wath 

 orchardists, and adopt the copper sprays which, in Europe, alone render 

 possible the vintaging of the grape crop. Concerning the efficacy of such 

 treatment, there is, fortunately, no longer any room for doubt. Copper 

 sprays afford complete protection provided they are opportune, properly 

 prepared, and thoroughly applied. 



This much admitted, the question naturally arises — at what cost? 

 The oft-repeated spraying necessary in Central France would render 

 profitable vine-growing impossible under our conditions. The assurance 

 can safely be given, however, that such will never be required here. In 

 Algeria mildew yields readily to timely treatment, the expense of w^hich 

 does not impose a severe tax on growers, and so will it prove with us. 

 The 1917-18 disaster in the Eutherglen district is the direct outcome of 

 an unfortunate combination of circumstances, viz., a season abnormally 

 favorable to fungus development — one in which our usual climatic pro- 

 tection has absolutely failed us; added to this, w\as total absence of 

 protective spraying. That copper could have afforded safety is 

 strikingly demonstrated at one vineyard in the district, where early 

 spraying was carried out on a portion of the area under vines. Here 

 the bulk of the crop has been saved, whereas on the unsprayed portion 

 tlie loss is almost complete. And yet only one spraying was given. 

 Such a result, in a season so wet as this has been, augurs well for the 

 future. 



The composition of spray mixtures and most suitable time for 

 their application, though questions of vital importance, may be held over 

 for the present, since no winter treatment is of any avail against Downy 

 Mildew (see Journal for Xovember, p. 697). The subject of the present 

 article is the method of application of the spray mixture ; in other words, 

 the spraying outfit. To insure protection, our vines must be sprayed. 

 How this object can be most efficiently and economically achieved — in 

 other words, with the least expenditure of labour and material — is the 

 problem awaiting solution. 



Early consideration of this phase of the question is opportune, in 

 order that preparations may be made in due time for next spring's 

 campaign. Spraying must commence in October. 



It is not only at Rutherglen, however, that our vine-growers are 

 interested in vineyard spraying. The extreme prevalence of "Black 



