79 



1. To facilitate spraying squashes, plant in wide rows with the hills close together 

 in the row. This type of planting allows free passage of the spray rig between the 

 rows, and Uttle time is lost in stepping from hill to hill. 



2. Thin to the desired number of plants in each hill as early as is compatible with 

 good farm practise. In this way, no spray material is wasted on plants that are later 

 to be destroyed. 



3. Equip the four-foot spray rod with a 45° angle disc nozzle with a small hole in the 

 disc. This breaks the spray up into a very fine mist which covers quickly and thoroughly 

 with a minimum of waste. In addition, equip the base of the spray rod with an auto- 

 matic shutoff of the spring-grip type, so that the stream can be stopped instantly, 

 thus allowing no wastage when passing between hiUs. This type of equipment can be 

 used as well with a compressed air sprayer or one of the knapsack type as with a 

 barrel pimip or power outfit. With a power outfit, regulate the pressure at from 100 to 

 150 pounds per square inch. 



Fig. 2. — Automatic Shutoff Used in Experiments. 



Wliat may be called the average cost of spraying squashes has been figured 

 from the records kept of the experimental work. The cost per acre can be seen to 

 vary enormously, depending on the type of planting (hills per acre and plants per 

 hill) and the stage of growth of the plants during the period of spraying. The 

 figures given below are for four treatments, one week apart in July, applied to 

 an acre containing one thousand squash plants of average growth. 



1. Using compressed air or other small capacitj', low-pressure outfit. Black-leaf "40", 

 1-100 recommended. 



Dilute spray material, 150 gallons containing Black-leaf "40", 1.5 



gallons at $12.50 -SIS 75 



1 man, 24 hours at $.40 9 60 



Total cost per acre of one thousand plants .... $28 35 



2. Using a barrel pump or power outfit giving a fairly large defivery at 100 to 150 

 pounds pressure. Black-leaf "40", 1-250 recommended. 



Dilute spray material, 275 gallons containing Black-leaf "40", 1.38 



gallons at $12.50 $17 25 



3 men — 1 horse, 6 hours at $1.55 9 30 



Total cost per acre of one thousand plants .... $26 55 



If the type of planting calls for more than 1,000 plants per acre, the cost of 

 treatment is increased accordingly. 



In an effort to discover the average increase in jdeld which might reasonably be 

 expected from the use of the above treatment, and the relation of the value of this 

 increase to the cost of treatment, letters were sent to prominent squash growers 

 in various parts of the State. The replies received from those portions of the 

 State where the borer is well establishe^i have been tabulated as follows : 



