NEW YOKE. JULY 12. 1913. 
WEEKLY $1.00 PICK YEAR. 
THE BUSINESS OF POTATO SPRAYING. 
When, How and Where. 
Our regular 18-acre potato field was planted this 
season May 12-15, using about 20 bushels large seed 
per acre, and planted 3x11x36 inches. Usually the 
first spraying is made when the young potato bugs 
(larva*) appear and become destructive. The time 
varies from June 23 to July 4. Spraying ceases 
about middle of September, depending on season 
and conditions. The 5-5'-50 formula (Bordeaux mix¬ 
ture) is followed. Fifty pounds of pure sulphate of 
copper (crystals) are weighed out in a sack and 
suspended at the top of a barrel of water, dissolving 
over night in 50 gallons of water. This copper water 
is known as "stock solution.” Water charged with 
copper is heavier and the strongest solution is 
always found at bottom of barrel, therefore the 
“stock solution” should 
be thoroughly agitated 
before using. One gal¬ 
lon of the “stock" will 
contain one pound of 
copper (blue vitriol). 
Ohio Marblehead lime, 
barreled, is used exclu¬ 
sively. This is carefully 
slaked ahead of time, 
and is also kept in stock 
solution. About onc- 
half hour before using 
it, it is gently stirred 
up and allowed to set¬ 
tle, using only the milk 
of lime. 
Contrary to the gen¬ 
eral advice to put the 
copper water into spray 
tank first, we fill tank 
one-fourth full of clear 
water, then put in about 
eight three-gallon pails 
of milk of lime (lime 
water), next a few pails 
of clear water to wash 
out the strainer. Then 
the 10 1-5 gallons of 
copper water is put in 
tank and tilled about 
seven-eighths full, with 
dear water. By put¬ 
ting chemicals together 
thus, the copper water 
flues not contact di¬ 
rectly with any of 
sprayer parts and the 
undesirable corroding effects are prevented. 
-\n ounce of ferro-cyanide of potassium, costing 
l,ut 11 trifle * dissolved in a glass of water and solu- 
,ion l ,ut iu u clean oil can is convenient and used 
,IS a test to determine if copper is neutralized by 
! tune. Test is used after lime and copper water 
I'lit together in tank and before poison is added. 
A few drops of this test squirted into Bordeaux will 
show red or discolors the Bordeaux. To correct. 
">is more lime water should be added. If copper 
ls alre »dy neutralized the test will show no color 
;I11, 1 Kurdeaux is safe to apply. The copper is the 
1 •>Kht destroying agent, but copper used alone will 
! s| '".v potato foliage faster than blight. The lime 
"! lnp ly neutralizes the caustic action of the copper. 
IM ‘ formula lias lime in abundance. 
Aitci trying several poisons pure Paris green is 
m ‘ lls °d, because of its reliable, prompt and ter- 
Ml l< < x °cution to the potato bug and his insatiable 
appetite. The green is mixed up in paste form and 
added to the Bordeaux (tank seven-eighths full) and 
tilled with water just before going to field. With 
bugs rapidly destroying potato foliage it is not good 
economy to use sparingly the poison. About U/j 
pound of green are used per acre, or live pounds per 
tank of 110 gallons which goes over about three 
Acres of land. Two pounds of green are used per 
acre if “slugs” are extremely numerous, hungry and 
weather catchy. One hour of dry weather will de¬ 
stroy 50 per cent of the slugs used thus.’ Every drop 
of water or solution passes through tine brass milk- 
strainer cloth at tilling opening before entering tank. 
With another strainer (nozzle protector) in dis¬ 
charge pipe, just ahead of nozzles, a large per 
cent of the nozzle clogging is avoided, also that 
exasperated feeling and contempt l’qr spray ma¬ 
chinery and spraying in general is not developed. 
A NEW AND l'KOMININtJ STRAWBERRY SEEDLING—ABOUT HALF NATURAL SIZE. Fig. 298. 
1 he sprayer is a two-horse, 110-gallon, six-row 
machine. Bump is 2%-inch. double acting, and 
works under 12.» to 150 pounds pressure in field. 
Machine is also provided with pressure gauge, ad¬ 
justable relief valve, rotary agitator, eight-gallon 
air-chamber and return pipe to tank, for back pump¬ 
ing and thorough mixing of solution. We use an 
improved \ ermorel degorging nozzle, provided with 
an inexpensive disk, which is easily and quickly 
replaced. I his nozzle produces a fine fog-smokelike 
spray. Only one nozzle per row is used, but special 
cal 'e is taken to go igg opposed directions at each 
application. 1'hat is. for north and south rows tin* 
tii'st application would be started south on first six 
rows, but north on same six rows, second applica¬ 
tion. After middle of July very thorough spraying 
commences. All nozzles are swung to tin* left and 
double reverse applications made. Then all nozzles 
are swung to the right and another double reverse 
application given. Next all nozzles are centered on 
the proper rows and reverse applications made. Fol¬ 
low ing applications for rest of season are similar. 
Nozzles are directed down at an angle of about 45 
degrees. By this method each and every potato 
plant has to stand a galling fire, and is shot at from 
six different positions and angles—like flanking an 
enemy, or fortifying a fort. And the potato plant 
is outwardly and entirely “copper-plated,” through 
and through, from top to bottom and inside to 
outside. 
Bordeaux will not destroy insects, but it is very- 
distasteful to their tastes. If at all possible they 
will suddenly- leave the field for more congenial 
surroundings and pasturage. At least they do not 
increase at such a rapid rate. Still the flea beetle 
is a very destructive and damaging insect to potato 
yields. The writer has never been able to find, 
anywhere in field, in 
August, a single potato 
leaf, free from the 
punctures of the thous¬ 
ands of these pin head 
size, jumping black ras¬ 
cals. even under favor¬ 
able spraying work and 
conditions. Every punc¬ 
ture is a dangerous 
place, soliciting and al¬ 
luring diseases to lake 
up there its abode. 
Just when to com¬ 
mence spraying pota¬ 
toes and the time to 
nit is a nice question, 
’omplete and heavy ap- 
cations of Bordeaux 
in the season, 
potato plants are 
one foot high, is 
ble. Insects quit 
get out. It is an 
Ulual and local 
depending on 
er and season, 
not a little. Our great¬ 
est time usually occurs 
about 10 days (August 
20) before maximum 
g r o w t h arrives, and 
continues until potatoes 
are in storage. Ordi¬ 
narily about four double 
applications are made 
during July, and dur¬ 
ing August and first 
half of September about ten more double applica¬ 
tions are made, endeavoring to apply 1.000 to 1.200 
gallons of Bordeaux mixture per acre during the 
season. Light and frequent applications are pre¬ 
ferable, as rains and dews dilute the film of copper¬ 
plating. also new growth should he protected. 
If blight is serious, with rot threatening, the 
spraying is continued longer, using a 0-4-50 formula, 
even though the majority of potato vines are dead 
or nearly so. Every blight germ destroyed is a step 
toward rot prevention, loss and extra work. Last 
Fall 16 acres of potatoes averaged 385 bushels per 
acre and no rot. Thorough and prolonged sprayings 
should be credited for the result. 
Three test rows are invariable left through the 
field, near the central part, as a cheek during grow¬ 
ing season, and for final comparative results. Also 
further interesting and valuable data can be secured 
by double and triple spraying a few rows e\cry 
