AORK TLTriUI. AFI'UOIMUATIOX BIM-, 11)24. 77 



" W'v f«'fl Ihiil Ihc iiivi'MtiKatloii of fnisl |in-vi>tiliuii U-lim nirr\f\ mi Ity 

 tilt' Wi'iitlirr HiMcaii !■< of urciit iiii|Mirtiiii«c, iiinl wt- lii)|i«> iIuti* will )•«• imtlilnK 

 to Intt'i-fcn' with tilt' <'<)iiiiiiiiiitii)|i tif ilif work." 



Tilt* lo.ssfH of Inst si'tisoii til iiu|)r*iit><'t)-<l fruit in California will iiniUniMtMlly 

 ffrtiilt in tlit> tt|Ui|i|>lnK of a niiirli liirutT ut-rcaKt* fiir fro^t iirottflltai. ami tin- 

 (lata Katlit'rt'<l l>.v tlif WcatluT iliiri-aii In itN rt-mitly iiiiiiiKnrati-<| t-xtt'iiMlvf 

 ttMiii>t>r)itiin' siirvi'vs will Im> in uroit ilfiniinil. iinil llic looixMiitlon \>\ tin- 

 htirt'iiii will iini|iit>siionalily \h- n>s|iMiisil)l<> for tlif Having of many niillioiiM of 

 ttollars worth of fruit. This .st'rvicc. prior to Un rft*t'nt «>nlaru«Miifiil nml 

 i'Xtt'iiNloii, l.s «'Htiiiiatt>(i to liavt' t'lYt'ctttl .savhiKN of fruit of a value of $|,.*i4M»,imni 

 auniially and .should l>t> iiimli K>'«>iitcr In the futurt>. 



I (/ 1 I'ritit Mpiuii ami Imi i < nt n i ulhrr fim itixtx. To mcft iiiufiil rii|UfstH 

 from |>roKn'.s.«.ivf liort iniltiir st.s ii .sptHJal sfrvht- has lat'ii (-ondiKit'd (or Mt»v- 

 t'ral st'astins in conm-i-tinn with t>i't-liaril-sprayinu iMtivith-s in tin- apple ;:rovvin;.' 

 HtM-tions In uortluTn New York and to a niori> limited extent in loi-al.tifs in 

 rennsylviiiiia ami VirKlnia. The work has lieen carried on in (-oo|M>rat ion witli 

 State extension and eoiint.v and tarm Imreau aueiieies as a demonstration oi° 

 the jiraet iealtiilty and value of fon-cn.-'fs of rain on which the siiccesH of the 

 spraying o|K'rations largely de|iend. l>aiiia;;e from fro.st is not a s(>rlouH menace 

 to apide >:i"<>^vlnn in northern New York. Serious loss from this cause ocrur.< 

 on an averai^e of less th;iii om e in 10 years. Scah. a finiLrus diseas*', \n the 

 worst enemy. The si.ali reiiiahis doimaiit as loim as tlie wealiier is dr\ . The 

 iipon>8 come into act i\ ity wiien mo stene<l, and unless killtMl |>y s|)ray the trees 

 may hecoiiie infected within "-M htmrs. The prolilem is to apply the spray Just 

 hefore a rain. When the rains (K-eur the funyl heyin tt) jjrow and are killed 

 liy the jioison in the s|»ray. If the spray is applieil and the raiis do not occur 

 within three days thereafter llie etVect of tiie poison is miiiiiidzed or lost en- 

 tirely. There are altoiit iL'.tKMi commercial apple jrrowers in .seven counties in 

 New York who are itiui|>ped for spraying. At least three ajiplicat ions are 

 neee.s.sary each seastm. It is estiniate<I that the total eost of apple-tree si)ray- 

 inir for one .season in tlie ^even counties is ahout .S.'?.."><Kt.(MM>. Therefore, accu- 

 rate and timely forecasts of the cominn «)f rains in tlie sprayim; season are 

 of ^reat imiiortance to the oidiardists in determiiiiui.' when'' and when the 

 si>ray shall he applietl. In some of the larger orchards three days are reipiired 

 for one application. Cou.se<|Uently the forecasts must he for a lonirer period 

 than is covered hy the re^rular forecasts. The work is of a dilliciilt character 

 and reipiires the special study and attention of exjierts. The resixmsiliiiity 

 placefl on the Weallier I'ureaii in ^rivin^ correct information is apparent : if the 

 forecaster fails to predict rain and the spray is not applied, the trees hecome 

 ininit>diately affected; if rain is forecast and the spray is applietl. hut the ra'n 

 fails to materialize, the elTect of the si»rayiiij; is lost entirely or considerahly 

 rediiceil and heavy losses are sustained liy the irrowers. 



The fidlowinix is quoted from a spe<ial reiiort on this work iluriiiK the season 

 of WYl'l hy Professor Croshy and I'lofessor Horner. <d' the New York State 

 extension, based on information submitted by lield assistants and county 

 apents: 



"The spe<'lal forecasts for the spray service were sent to flie following eiplit 

 counties: Orleans, .Monroe, Wayne. (Jenesee, Onondapn. ( 'liaiitauiiiia, and I'lster. 

 They were u.sed constantly hy the field assistants in timing tlieir recommenda- 

 ti<»ns for .sprays. In the case of sprays involving fundus diseases these special 

 forecasts are esi)e<'ially imptirtant .because it is well known that fiinpus dis- 

 ea.ses are vitally affected by tlie periods of wet weather. Four of the most 

 important counties harl a teleplioiie relay system l»y means of which it was 

 possible to warn the growers quickly wlien it was time to apply the spray. 

 This system was used thrtuiphout the season whenever oeeas-'on tlemanded. 

 At other times and in counties where the relay system was not usetl circular 

 letters and jiostcards wer(> used to broadcast the information. 



"The number of fruit prowwis reaihed direitly by this service was "J.."!!**). 

 It is a well-known fact. Imwever. that nearly every grower who receivetl the 

 service has at least one neighbor who uets the information frtaii him. This 

 would nearly double the number benelitinji by this service. 



" We feel stmn^rly that these sprcinl weather fort^asts are «if ;:reat im- 

 portance in making the Weather I'lireaii of real .service to our fruit growers 

 and general farmers, and that detinite provision for the service is essential 

 for petting the full value out of the Weather Rureau." 



