238 The Spraying of Plants. 



plums, cherries, quinces, all the small fruits, and many vegeta- 

 bles, will generally repay proper treatment. 



A secondary benefit is also derived in those products which 

 are stored. Unsound fruit will not keep, for decay generally 

 begins in a part which has already been injured. It has been 

 said that sprayed fruit will keep longer than that w r hich has not 

 been treated, even though both are free from blemishes. The 

 question is open to doubt, however, since no decisive experiments 

 have yet been made. But the more nearly perfect the stored crop 

 is when put in, the longer it will keep and the greater value it 

 will possess, other conditions being equal. 



It must not be inferred from the preceding remarks that all 

 crops should be sprayed. The question " Does spraying pay ? " 

 can best be answered by the grower, and he must be his own 

 judge regarding the advisability of treatments. Let the question 

 be considered from the proper standpoint and the matter will be 

 simplified. The final test in regard to the making of treatments 

 may be stated in this form : does the difference between the mar- 

 ket value of sound fruit, and the value of the product obtained 

 when no treatments are made, warrant the expense of purchas- 

 ing materials and the labor of making the applications? The 

 grower knows the price received for his crop ; he also knows the 

 price paid for perfect or fancy crops ; the difference between 

 the two, so far as injuries from insects and fungi are concerned, 

 shows to what extent the crop may be benefited by treatments. 

 It is then a simple matter to determine if the applications will 

 pay. It will be noted that little question regarding the efficiency 

 of the applications is here entertained. It is taken for granted, 

 and with good reason, that proper treatment must produce the 

 desired result. The arsenites will destroy all chewing insects, 

 with scarcely an exception, and the copper compounds will pre- 

 vent injury from most fungi; these are established facts, but 

 it remains for the grower to apply them. There probably 

 exists an economical remedy for every disease of plants ; the 

 vast majority of these diseases are now under control, and 

 although a few obstinate cases still exist, the future is encourag- 

 ing when we consider the progress made in the past. Intelli- 

 gence, knowledge, and good judgment, when assisted by in- 

 secticides and fungicides, will prove more than a match for 

 these organisms which prey upon the products of man's labors. 



