HOW TO INCEEASE THE POTATO CROP BY SPRAYING. 19 



bulletm was written, but tlio increased product warrants an increased 

 expenditure. 



The value of sucli applicatiojis of spray annually in regions not 

 included in the blight area (fig. 10) is not so well estabUshed. Con- 

 ditions in the Atlantic coastal region from New Jersey to Florida, for 

 mstance, are so different from those farther north that spraying can 

 not be expected to give as large returns as in Maine or New York. 

 In Florida there have been several years when lato-bhght has pre- 

 vailed and spraymg has been profitable. Here the argument for 

 crop insurance is stronger and spray apphcations may be advised iii 

 number proportioned to the frequency of rain, but always thorough. 

 In New Jersey also, as conchtions begin to approach those of the 

 North, gains from spraying may be expected. This is equally true 

 in other regions of the United States, where blight occurs only in 

 occasional years. 



The forego mg figures sho w, however, that spraying is very profitable 

 in districts where potato insects and diseases amiually take a big toll. 

 The most successful growers in these districts, who wish to be insured 

 against loss, practice thorough and consistent spraying, knowmg that 

 there wiU be large returns on their investment. 



SPRAYING APPLIANCES. 



For home gardens small hand sprayers of varymg cost and efficiency 

 are to be had. Consult Farmers' Bulletin 856. 



For the farm potato patch, where from one-haK acre to 3 acres are 

 grown and where orchard trees or small fruits are to be sprayed, a 

 barrel spray pump of good capacity is recommended. This hand 

 pump is mounted on a 50-gallon barrel and carried on a homemade 

 two-.wheel cart or in a farm wagon. 



If a cart is used the nozzle may be fastened to the back to spray 

 four rows, but to do good work with this it is necessary, as with the 

 Hghk^r traction sprayers, to go over the field twice, the second time 

 hi the opposite direction. 



More thorough work can be done by hand spraymg if the pump 

 is fitted with one or two Imes of 4-inch hose, 25 feet long, endhig in a 

 4-foot gas-pipe extension. This requires a man for- each line and one 

 to pump. 



AH commercial growers should provide themselves with the most 

 effective traction sprayer they can secirre. In these the pump is 

 operated by a chain or gear drive from the wheels. It pays to get 

 the best, as a high pr3ssure of 120 to 150 pounds is needed for effec- 

 tive work. (See fig. 21.) 



A good nozzle is one of the most important parts of a spray outfit. 

 The cyclone or eddy chamber type, of which the Vermorel is an 



