154 Report of the Botanist of the 



promptly and there are likely to be unforeseen hindrances such as 

 lack of materials or the sprayer being out of order. Then, too. it 

 often happens, as in 1903, that the outbreak of blight occurs during 

 a period of wet weather when it is almost impossible to get into the 

 field to spray. The only sure way to avoid such difficulty is to com- 

 mence early and spray regularly at intervals of ten to fourteen days 

 as directed on page 161. 



Sometimes, this method may result in slight loss. It appears that 

 over the greater part of the State during the past season there was 

 but little done, so far as the prevention of blight is concerned, by any 

 spraying made before Aug. i.^^ The important sprayings were those 

 made during the last two weeks in August. However, one or two, 

 and sometimes three, applications of poison for " bugs " must be 

 made anyway and the extra expense of applying bordeaux with the 

 poison is but a trifle which is generally more than repaid by the in- 

 creased efficiency of the poison for " bugs," partial protection against 

 flea-beetle injury, protection against early blight and paris green 

 injury and by stimulation of the plants. Spraying often results in a 

 marked increase in yield in seasons when there is no late blight. 



When late blight is prevalent the spraying should be done very 

 thoroughly. During damp, muggy weather in August there is little 

 danger in over-doing spraying. Many fail because they are too sav- 

 ing of time and materials at such times. 



Besides the two common causes of failure already mentioned there 

 is another which sometimes leads farmers to believe that spraying 

 does not prevent blight. We refer to the stem blight, an obscure 

 disease found on Long Island and in the lower Hudson Valley.^® 

 The leaves of affected plants roll inward and upward exposing the 

 under surface. Soon after, the whole plant begins to dry up slowly 

 and finally dies prematurely. The stem is discolored at the surface 



^"Tliis does not apply to Long Island. 



""For a more complete account of stem blight see Bulletin lOi of this 

 Station, pp. 83-84. 



