9S BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc 



embodying these features can be bought for $10, and $2 or 

 $3 extra will purchase the necessary hose, nozzles and bamboo 

 extensions. 



Within the past few years a number of expensive mechan- 

 ical spraying outfits have made their appearance on the 

 market ; but they do no better work than the simpler ones 

 just described, and are not as well adapted to general farm 

 and orchard use. 



A special adaptation of the barrel pump for spraying 

 potatoes was devised a few years ago by one of our Con- 

 necticut farmers, and has proved extremely satisfactory. 

 The pump is mounted in a barrel on a cart, as usual, but, 

 instead of being provided with two outlets, it has but one, 

 which connects with a half-inch hose. This projects over 

 the tailboard of the cart, and carries the mixture to a piece 

 of gas pipe nine feet long, fitted with Vermorel nozzles three 

 feet apart. The pipe is carried, at right angles to the wagon, 

 by a man walking behind, or it may be fastened to the rear 

 of the wagon itself. By means of this device four rows arc 

 sprayed simultaneously, and two men can easily spray ten 

 acres of potatoes in a day. 



But, after all, does it pay? This is the only practical 

 question in the whole matter. We may take for granted 

 that fungicides are effective in preventing fungous diseases ; 

 but will the quality of our apples, potatoes, etc., be enough 

 improved by spraying to make of that operation anything 

 more than a harmless fad for rich men and a means of em- 

 ployment for scientific theorists? These are days of high 

 wages, keen competition and low profits. Can the average 

 farmer, with, say, fifty apple and other fruit trees, an acre 

 of vines, two or three acres of small fruits and the same of 

 potatoes, spend money on a spraying outfit, with any hope 

 of finding himself richer rather than poorer at the close of 

 the season? To this question I should reply emphatically in 

 the negative, if that farmer thinks that he can starve his 

 trees, leave his land untillcd and disregard every rule of 

 orchard sanitation, and then expect a little Bordeaux mixture, 

 carelessly prepared and applied at hap-hazard, to make good 

 all his omissions and give him a sound and abundant crop. 

 But, given an orchard which receives intelligent and proper 

 care in the way of culture, spraying becomes a most valuable 



