COMPULSORY SPRAYING FOR FRUIT INSECTS AND DISEASES. 77 



Compulsory Spraying for Fruit Insects and Diseases. 



K. A. KIRKPATRICK, HENNEPIN COUNTY AGENT, WAYZATA. 



Wide experience and observation in teaching, and extension 

 work in a number of states, have led the writer to believe that 

 neglected orchards or fruit plantations are a real menace to any 

 community that is attempting commercial fruit growing. The 

 same might also be said regarding poorly handled truck crops in 

 a section devoted to truck growing. Inasmuch as every com- 

 munity has organized means for dealing with human and ani- 

 mal diseases or with any other problems that are of grave pub- 

 lic concern, it would seem that all communities engaged in 

 specialized farming, such as commercial berry growing, orchard- 

 ing or truck growing, must very soon put in effect measures to 

 maintain compulsory spraying and approved care of all planta- 

 tions in those neighborhoods in order that the highest community 

 efficiency may exist. Only when the community is reaping 100 

 per cent, results from its efforts can individual property be at 

 its best therein. 



Undoubtedly the point will be raised that any compulsory 

 procedure would be radical and smack of paternalism in public 

 affairs. There are a few people in our midst who want to wal- 

 low in and swallow a brew of "spread eagle" independence. To- 

 day our only hope in the industrial or the farming world is 

 inter-dependence. Where hundreds of people are gaining their 

 living out of a specialized crop it is certain that the majority of 

 the better class of growers will not long tolerate the shiftless, 

 careless individual who is a real danger and a profit-loser to them. 

 The time is coming when such inefficiency, either from choice or 

 necessity, will be barred out of the community, call it paternal- 

 ism or any other name that we may wish. It is certain that the 

 progressive growers in any such communities will quickly wel- 

 come any plan for controlling neglect in their midst if such plan 

 can be shown to be practicable. 



Can we show practicability in any suggestion for compul- 

 sory measures in the State of Minnesota? It will not suffice to 

 advocate the system followed in western states, where there are 

 horticultural associations with strong county organizations 

 through which a horticultural inspector works. These men get 

 nominal to splendid results, depending upon their own ability 

 and the type of people with whom they have to work. If any 

 compulsory measures are to be adopted in Minnesota it is 



