ii8 Report of the Botanist of the 



there was a total increase in yield of 3,746 bushels, or an average 

 of 61.24+ bushels per acre. At 50 cents per bushel the increase 

 was worth $1,873. Subtracting from this amount the total ex- 

 pense of the spraying, $296.49, there is a remainder of $1,576.51, 

 which is the total net profit. This is at the rate of $25.77+ P^^ 

 acre. 



It is estimated that the loss from potato blight in New York 

 in 1903 was 50 bushels per acre on the average. Since the area 

 devoted to potatoes in the State is about 396,000 acres and the 

 average price of potatoes in the fall of 1903 was 50 cents per 

 bushel, the total loss sustained by New York farmers in a single 

 season was nearly $10,000,000. A large part of this loss might 

 have been prevented by spraying. 



INTRODUCTION. 



During the past season the Station has continued the ten-year 

 potato-spraying experiments begun in 1902. These experiments 

 are designed to determine how much the yield of potatoes can be 

 increased, on the average, by spraying with bordeaux mixture. 

 The plan is to continue the experiments during ten consecutive 

 seasons, and take the average increase in yield as the index of the 

 value of spraying potatoes in New York State. The experiments* 

 are to be conducted in two localities, namely, at Geneva and at 

 Riverhead. Two methods of spraying are to be compared as to 

 their efficiency : Some rows are sprayed every two weeks regu- 

 larly, while others are sprayed only three times during the season. 

 At each place the area of the experiment field is to be three-tenths 

 of an acre each season. The rows sprayed every two weeks 

 alternate with those sprayed only three times and with others 

 not sprayed at all. For further details see Bulletin 221. 



In addition to the above experiments the Station has, during 



^A full account of the experiments and the results obtained in 1902 are 

 given in Bulletin 221 of this Station. 



