60 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



with which gardeners have to contend ; and, since we are 

 liable to observe only the effects of the fungus or bacteria 

 preying upon the plant, we too often think that they are the 

 primary causes of the disease, when, as a matter of fact, 

 they are purely secondary. 



This leads us to the subject of spraying as a preventive 

 of plant diseases. From the hap-hazard manner in which 

 it is often resorted to, one would gain the idea that it is in- 

 tended as a curative rather than as a preventive remedy. 

 This idea is erroneous, inasmuch as spraying is intended as 

 a prevention rather than a cure. This misconception of the 

 proper use of spraying solutions gives rise to the practice 

 of using the Bordeaux mixture as a panacea for every plant 

 disease. Upon this point we wish to state that it must be 

 distinctly borne in mind that spraying under any condition 

 is only a temporary means of preventing certain diseases. 

 The ultimate aim of all progress connected with gardening 

 should be not only to improve the marketable product, but 

 to improve the stock and increase our knowledge pertaining 

 to proper cultivation, so that spraying will be unnecessary. 

 Many experienced gardeners recognize this, and we find 

 experts in almost every line of gardening who have had 

 eminent success in controlling diseases without resorting to 

 the use of fungicides. Some of the most experienced 

 growers of carnations claim that they can control the many 

 diseases which have of late years affected this plant, hy 

 simple, judicious methods in the management of the green- 

 house. 



To expect that spraying is going to save plants that are 

 improperly cared for, or to act as a cure for those already 

 diseased, is absurd. There are many instances where spray- 

 ing produces beneficial results, and at the present time it 

 appears to be essential, in some instances, to the production 

 of good crops ; but there are also many instances where it 

 is entirely useless. This applies especially to the diseases 

 having their origin in improper care or in abnormal condi- 

 tions surrounding the plant. The condition of the potato 

 crop in Massachusetts during the past summer affords an 

 illustration of how any amount of spraying would not save 



