480 BULLETIN 229. 



former, 81 per cent of the crop was barreled, while from the latter, only 70 

 per cent was thus sold. The difference in yield is partly due to the 

 poorer care given to unsprayed orchards, and is partly due to direct loss 

 caused by worms and scab. The scab probably caused many apples to fall 

 early in the season. Throughout the season it caused some apples to 

 crack and drop. 



The time to spray. As will be seen from table n, nearly half of those 

 farmers who sprayed only once accomplished little in preventing scab. 

 One-sixth of those who sprayed twice accomplished little, still having over 

 fifty per cent scab. Of the 95 orchards sprayed once, only two were 

 practically free from scab; while of the 126 sprayed twice, 35 were prac- 

 tically free from scab. None of the unsprayed orchards had less than 

 25 per cent scab, but nine-tenths of those sprayed three times had less 

 than this amount. 



The table seems to show that: 



1. All unsprayed orchards were badly infected with scab in 1904. 



2. Marked results were accomplished by one spraying in half the a cases. 



3. While two sprayings were sufficient in 27 per cent of the orchards, 

 three was the only safe number. 



4. Much of the spraying is done at such a time or in such a manner 

 that it is of little value. 



Perhaps the most striking point in this table is the difference in results 

 from the same number of sprayings. Some of the difference is prob- 

 ably due to the weather conditions following the application, but most 

 of it is due to thorough spraying at the right time as contrasted with 

 careless work, or work done at the wrong time. 



In 1904 that fruit that was not sprayed IMMEDIATELY after blossoming 

 was invariably scabby. This one spraying was not enough, but it was the 

 most essential one. Farmers frequently put off spraying a few days 

 because they are too busy. This, of all farm operations, must be done 

 at the right time. The seeds (spores) of the scab grow when conditions 

 are favorable. They do not wait for the farmer. Unlike weeds, they are 

 not readily killed when once established. After the mycelium of the scab 

 is within the apple it is safe from the influence of sprays. Since it 

 must be killed by contact, it is evident that every apple must be sprayed 

 on all sides. The results from spraying would be still more striking if 

 only those orchards that were thoroughly sprayed at the right times were 

 included. 



