8 BULLETIN 714, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 
Spraying. 
Thorough spraying has been found in all localities to reduce rot 
and improve the keeping quality of the fruit. In New Jersey and 
on Long Island, where there is always considerable loss from fun- 
gous disease before picking and where spraying has been practiced 
in some cases for 10 years, thorough spraying has been found 
profitable and no injury to the vines has been observed. 
Experiments were conducted with the Early Black variety at 
Whitesbog, N. J., during 1917 to determine the times at which 
Bordeaux mixture should be applied in order to. control fungous dis- 
eases most effectively and economically. Blast, early-rot, and a 
storage rot, all due to Guignardia vaccinii Shear, were the principal 
causes of loss on this bog during the year. Bordeaux mixture of 
the formula 4-4—50, with about 1 pound of resin-fishoil soap, was 
used throughout the experiments. 
A single thorough application of Bordeaux mixture after the blos- 
som buds had begun to open increased the total yield by more than 
10 per cent (from 173 to 192 bushels per acre) by controlling blossom 
blast. Two applications before blossoming were no more e'ffective 
than one. An application immediately before the spring refiow 
showed no effect in the control of fungi. No trace of the spray was 
observed on the vines when the water was removed. The applica- 
tions before blossoming had no effect in reducing the rotting of the 
fruit after picking. 
Protection of the berries from infection during the first month 
of their growth resulted in very satisfactory control of both field 
and storage rots. This was accomplished by two thorough applica- 
tions, one near the close of the blossoming period (before all the 
petals had fallen) and another two weeks later. By these applica- 
tions alone the total yield was increased, the rot at picking time was 
reduced from more than 20 per cent to less than 2 per cent, and stor- 
age rot from 6.7 per cent to 1.9 per cent. These two sprays applied 
at the proper time effected a saving of 44 bushels of marketable 
cranberries per acre, or one-fourth of the crop. Any delay in mak- 
ing the first application after blossoming resulted in a marked in- 
crease in both field rot and storage rot. 
A third application after blossoming was of no increased benefit 
in these experiments. It must be repeated, however, that early-rot 
was the only fungous trouble of importance on this bog; furthermore, 
the berries were picked before the middle of September. It is doubt- 
ful whether two applications after blossoming will give satisfactory 
control with all varieties or where other diseases, such as bitter-rot, 
are concerned. A similar series of experiments with cranberries of 
the Centennial variety in New Jersey during 1917 gave unsatisfactory 
