NINTH ANNUAL MEETING. 79 



No doubt exists that disease may be communicated by 

 stock or cion, which simply indicates that great care should 

 be used in the selection of both. 



Finally, if fruit growers generally would record care- 

 fully the condition of stock and cion at time of grafting; 

 then observe closely the changes afterward, much could be 

 done to establish some laws to guide us in our work. 



A brief recess was then taken. 



The next speaker was Mr. Edward VanAlstyne of Kin- 

 derhook, N, Y., who told of his twelve years' experience in 

 spraying fruit crops. This address, from one of the most 

 thorough and successful fruit farmers of the Hudson 

 River section, was listened to with great interest. 



TWELVE YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN SPRAYING. 



By E. VanAlstyne. Kinderhook, N. Y. 



The question is often asked, "What is the use of all 

 this spraying? Is it necessary? A few years ago we 

 heard nothing of these various insects and diseases. Is it 

 a notion gotten up by people who have something to sell? 

 By makers of spraying apparatus or dealers in chemicals? 

 Are these 7iczv troubles?" 



I answer by saying that most of these troubles are not 

 new. We have been increasing our plantings of fruit trees 

 and plants, and so have furnished excellent food as well as 

 good breeding ground for the various pests; something 

 more suited to their needs as well as more plenty than the 

 wild plants they originally subsisted upon. 



Fruit plantations multiply, so these troubles multiply. 

 Then, too, as we increase our traffic with the whole world, 

 we will continue to bring in new pests and diseases. Dr. 

 Howard says that of the seventy-five insects most injurious 

 to our fruits, thirty-seven are of foreign origin. These are 

 cold, hard facts, and we may as well accept them first as 

 last. He who will not adapt himself to these changed con- 

 ditions will surely be left in the rear of the procession of 



