93 



matter of cost as a matter of time, — to find time to spray 

 the trees thoroughly at each critical period and yet not 

 neglect other orchard operations or other crops when they 

 tlemand proper attention. 



As to expensiveness of spraying, the Auchter orchard. 

 r.ow in its fourth decade, has yielded the Geneva Station 

 during the past decennium a net profit per j^ear of $120.60 

 per acre. On the cost sheet for a barrel of apples are nine 

 items of expense, amounting to $1.29, which covers the 

 groAving, harvesting and delivery of the fruit to the railroad 

 ■station. 



In order of importance as regards expense, spraying 

 lanks as fiftli on the list and amounts to only 7 1-2 per cent, 

 ox the whole cost involved in producing a barrel of apples 

 for the market. This orchard, by reason of its isolation 

 and the careful attention that it receives in all respects has, 

 <luring the past five years, required only two spraj^ings 

 during a season. The practices in this respect are unusual 

 f.nd perhaps not a safe guide for many orchards, even in the 

 }>ame connnunity. If one or tAvo more foliage treatments 

 were made the cost, on the basis of past experiences, Avould 

 be approximately 9 % to 13 per cent of the expense of rais- 

 ing a barrel of apples. None of these amounts seem large 

 compared with the benefits derived from spraying. 



Considered in the light of the productiveness of the 

 abave orchard and the losses sustained by manv growers in 

 their plantings from injurious insects and plant diseases, it 

 appears that more money could well be invested in intelli- 

 gent spraying. Some growers w^ould undoubtedly derive 

 great financial benfit by having more spraying rigs and 

 additional crews of men, if conditions exist so that both men 

 and horses could be profitably employed Avhen their presence 

 is not needed in the orchard. Others Avould find opportuni- 

 ties for economizing time during spraying operations and 

 for developing higher standards of work by using ma- 

 chines of larger capacity and poAver than are frequently 

 cmploj^Kl. In this connection it is to be hoped that the 



