ed bee 
SPRAYING FOR FUNGOUS DISEASES OF THE APPLE, PEAR, AND OTHER 
FRUITS. 
Probably in no other country of the world is spraying for fungous 
diseases of fruits practiced to the same extent as in the United States. 
Five years ago practically nothing was known of this subject; in fact, 
the number actively engaged in spraying their trees, vines, etc., for such 
diseases as apple scab, black-rot, downy mildew, and other diseases of the 
grape did not exceed half a hundred, all told. Now, as a fair estimate, 
probably no less than 50,000 fruit-growers are engaged in this work. 
From the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Great Lakes to the 
Gulf the methods recommended by the Department are practiced every 
year. Canada has also adopted many of the suggestions made by us, 
and even now Australia is actively engaged in experiments in the 
treatment of apple, pear, peach, and other diseases, in accordance with 
suggestions originating with this Department. 
DOES IT PAY TO SPRAY? 
This question is in large part answered by the facts already given. No 
work that did not carry merit with it could have had such a phenomenal 
growth. To give a more direct answer, however, it may be stated that 
last season two hundred and fifty grape-growers in different parts of 
the country made a series of observations with a view of obtaining some 
definite information as to the value in dollars and cents of the recom- 
mendations made by the Department in the treatment of grape diseases. 
The facts reported by these men show conclusively that the actual profit 
to them over all expenses resulting from the treatment of black-rot and 
downy mildew was in round numbers $37,000. Thirteen thousand dol- 
lars of this sum was reported from the State of New York alone. 
Other examples equally as striking could be given, but this is 
sufficient for our purpose. Of course, every one is not successful, but 
where failure is reported it is usually easy to locate and remedy the 
trouble. 
FUNGICIDES OR REMEDIES USED IN SPRAYING. 
Numerous preparations have been recommended and used for this 
work. For all practical purposes, however, there are but four which 
properly may be called remedies. They are (1) Bordeaux mixture, (2) 
ammoniacal solution of copper carbonate, (3) eau céleste, and (4) modi- 
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