114 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
May, 1919 
Spraying for the Market Gar- 
dener 
By H. F. Tompson 
In The* Market Grower’s Journal 
The spraying of vegetable crops, 
excepting Potatoes, is not a com- 
mon practice in New England. 
The purpose of spraying either 
vegetables or fruits is usually 
two-fold, the control of insect 
pests and fungous diseases. At 
the present time it is everyday 
knowledge among fruit growers 
that both insects and diseases 
can be controlled by spraying 
with a combination of materials, 
the one an insecticide designed to 
kill either by stomach poison or 
contact; the other to protect by 
coating the plant with a sub- 
stance which prevents the growth 
of the organism causing disease. 
Spraying is not a universal 
prevention for our troubles with 
insects and disease. It is not 
pleasing that we should have to 
spray. In so far as we can, we 
should control the growth and 
health of our plants by good 
feeding and proper care. 
It is no more sensible, however, 
to allow insects and disease to 
destroy crops and remove profits 
when a remedy is at hand than it 
is to fail to call the doctor and to 
give the proper care and medicine 
when one of the family is sick 
with scarlet fever. 
During the past few seasons 
losses from insect pests and plant 
diseases have become severe. 
Some market gardeners have 
stopped growing certain crops 
because all profit was destroyed 
by insect or disease injury. 
In most instances, insects and 
disease can be controlled. And 
this can be done at a cost which 
makes their control a matter of 
good business. Spraying either 
with an insecticide or fungicide 
or both combined is usually neces- 
sary to bring about this control. 
As every good farmer knows, 
there is plowing and plowing, 
and hoeing and hoeing. In one 
case the results are poor, in the 
other good. If possible, this is 
more true with spraying and 
especially true with spraying 
vegetable crops for disease con- 
trol. Thoroughness is all es- 
sential. The right mixture, ap- 
plied at the right times, with the 
right equipment, with sufficient 
pressure and applied thoroughly 
will control Celery blight, melon 
blight, Cucumber blight. Tomato 
blight, kill Potato bugs, Tomato 
worms. Asparagus beetle larvae, 
lessen the damage from the 
striped Cucumber beetle, and 
many other insects. 
THE SPRAY PUMP 
There are many kinds of spray- 
ers on the market from the hand 
spray pump and barrel costing 
about $15, with the necessary 
equipment, to the big power 
sprayer costing several hundred. 
I have been insistent in recom- 
mending the use of a small power 
outfit for one principal reason : 
the capacity of such an equip- 
ment, if properly made, to deliver 
a steady pressure of between 175 
and 200 pounds. It is necessary 
to have this high pressure to get 
a uniformly fine spray which will 
enable the user to cover the crop 
to be sprayed. 
Ideal spraying results in the 
complete covering of the foliage 
with an even coat of solution on 
both surfaces of the leaves. The 
nearer we approach this ideal, 
the nearer we get to perfect re- 
sults. To go through the motions 
of spraying without results means 
a loss of labor and money in ma- 
terials and gives the impression 
that it is useless to spray. Both are 
wrong. Therefore, an equipment 
which will aid in eliminating 
these losses is worth while. 
Futhermore, while the cost of a 
small power sprayer will average 
$150 with equipment, it may eas- 
ily result in a saving double or 
triple that amount in a single 
season, will enable the user more 
efficiently and rapidly to do the 
necessary spraying with less labor, 
and lessen the difficulty of the 
work. 
The pump should be capable of 
delivering enough liquid to 
supply four nozzles of the 
“Friend” type and maintain 
pressure. Its capacity rating 
should not be less than four gal- 
lons per minute. It should be 
easy to pack and drain. Direct 
coupling with the engine is best. 
The engine should have suf- 
ficient power to maintain the de- 
sired pressure working at average 
load. Any one knowing anything 
about gasoline engines is able to 
judge of this by seeing the ma- 
chine in operation. 
There may be some question 
whether it is better to buy rub- 
ber or canvas hose. The latter is 
cheaper to buy. and as long lived 
when properly cleaned and stored 
after use. It is lighter to handle. 
The right size is three-eighths 
inch. 
For spraying vegetable crops 
the use of Vi-inch gas pipe for 
the spray rod is very satisfactory 
and a length of four feet is con- 
venient. There should be an angle 
shut off between the hose and rod. 
A brass Y will be the most suit- 
able connection between rod and 
nozzles. 
The ideal nozzle will deliver a 
very tine spray which will coat 
the foliage without drenching. 
The following kinds of nozzles 
