37 



as follows : " At the last Conference, I was, perhaps, as 

 little sanguine as any member with regard to spraying ; 

 nevertheless, now I am perhaps the most sanguine. Next 

 year I shall carry out experiments on a large scale if I 

 have the opportunity, but I shall not be disappointed if the 

 results are not all I expect. I believe that sulphate of iron is 

 far the best of the fungicides I have tried." 



Experiments were made with spraying at four different 

 stations in Victoria, in 1891-92. From these it is learned that 

 the spraying did apparently kill the rust with which it came in 

 contact, but the rust re-appeared, and in the end when the yields 

 came to be weighed the advantage of spraying did not become 

 apparent. As regards quantities, it was found that twelve pounds 

 of sulphate of iron to 100 gallons of water, put on at the rate of 

 thirty gallons per acre, formed the best dressing. There seemed 

 no advantage in putting on more than thirty gallons to the acre, 

 even on the heavy crops that were treated, which were very 

 dense and about 5 ft. 6 in. high. 



It is stated that although the final outcome of these experi- 

 ments was not a success, it must not be considered that they 

 were failures ; they were not failures, they resulted in partial 

 success and the reports received at first were highly encouraging. 

 The reason why the experiments resulted in only a partial 

 success is attributed to the leaf and stem surface not having 

 been all covered. Where the fungicide fell the spores did not 

 germinate. If the whole surface were covered the fungus would 

 find no place to enter. 



The Strawsonizer seemed to be more satisfactory in the early 

 stages of the corn crops, but not where they were high and heavy, 

 and complaints were made that the pipes got easily clogged. A 

 sprayer has been fashioned to be worked by steam, which, from 

 its results is said to be the sprayer of the future, not only for 

 field crops but also for orchards. This steam sprayer has, it is 

 said, an important advantage over the horse and hand sprayer, 

 namely, that it requires less water to cover a given area by 

 means of it. 



Mr. Pearson, who conducted the above experiments, in 

 answer to questions during a discussion, said: "no value 

 could be placed on the yields, as they were exceedingly variable. 

 I think the best test that can be quoted is with regard to the 

 plots sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture. One was sprayed 

 with the sprayer directed above the crop, and the other with 

 the sprayer directed within the crop ; the latter was the most 

 effective. The spraying from within gave a yield of thirty-one 

 bushels ; while where the sprayer was directed above, this yield 

 was twenty-five and a half bushels. These two cases may be 

 taken as a tolerably fair index. If we had succeded in a thorough 

 spraying I have not the least doubt that thirty-one bushels would 

 have been increased to forty bushels." 



On the other hand, experiments with spraying in Queensland, 

 conducted by Professor Shelton, failed to show any beneficial 

 results. Bordeaux mixture (bouillie bordelaise) and sulphate of 



Jll 5874 



