The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-29
THE COST OF SPRAYING.


No Doubt a. to Efficacy.
From Ezra Meekers Hop Annual
We are asked repeatedly whether it is
best to continue spraying after the hops
are formed, and whether spraying at that
time will injure the hops.
The answer to the first question depends
upon the condition of the yard. If neg
lected until the hops are formed and the
lice numerous. it is in our opinion too
late. as by that time they are to be found
in the burr where it is impossible to dis
lodge them, and one is most likely not
only to lose his crop, but also his work
and material for spraying.
Where the attack is light and recent the
case is different, and not only will the hops
not be injured by spraying, but the proba-
Hbility is the crop will be sound.
We would not advise making any change
in the strength of the emulsion for late
spraying.
We have kept an accurate account of
what it has cost to spray sixty-six acres
eight times on our yard. and which we
can now >say is measurably free from
vermin.
Two hundred and twenty-five gallons of
emulsion per acre for each spraying.
COST OF SANE PER ACRE.
Is pounds quassia at 10 cents. 50
Ii pounds whale oil soap OF 50 per cent.
strength at cents. Observation-Disclosures. ! 10
3 men and horses on sprayers for Is acres
man and team to supply water. rs
Total for once spraying. ............s3 70
Total cost OF spraying eight times. .....S30 90
We estimate our yards to yield this year
1,s00 pounds per acre, which would make
the total cost per pound Ia cents.
We are now shipping by sail around the
cape 300 tons OF Quassia wood and believe
We can reduce the cost of that article to
the growers to about one-half what it cost
this year-say to 81 per acre, thus saving
Sc per acre for the season.
We believe the cost of soap may be re-
duced in nearly or quite the same proper
ton. In q word, the cost of spraying
eight times next year ought not to cost
over $50 an acre. If we cut Oft our poles
and string the yards so that four spray
ings will be as effective as eight would be
on pole yards, We can. easily bring the
total cost of spraying TO $40 an acre, or
but slig htly over half cent pound.
We know that as a rule we have had too
much foliage to grow the best hops, and
in fact too much to grow the most hops
Every grower doubtless has observed
the light, chatfy immature hops in
the punched hills" We have in
recent years pracnced training two vines
to the pole with but one pole to the hilr)
in strong land, and in some cases only
one. Finally when the pest came We cut
off the poles on part of the yard to ten
feet and put the Irvine on at the top.
By this management all punches of
foliage disappears, every part is easily
reached by the sprayer and every louise re-
ceives his portion of medicine. Not so
where the foliage is thick. for IN such
cases it is very difficult to reach the inner
most leaves with the emulsion.
We have tested this matter so thor
oughly with twenty acres or more) last
more than 100, 600 poles the coming WIN
ter, and string all our yards.
Another advantage is that we not only
protect ourselves from the rayages of the
lice, by getting them into position where
We can make a target OF them. but
we likewise protect our yards from de-
struction by bleeding" from the ef-
fects of early cutting OF the vine near the
ground. Numerous growers have had
practical experience in the way of missing
hills from this cause and greatly re-
duced yield from those that barely
escape destruction. In picking stirring"
yard, the Irvine and vine is cut
at the top of each alternate pole and
swings down into convenient position for
picking without necessitating taking down
the pole or cutting the vine except at the
top of the pole. The poles should be
eleven feet long when new and then are
long enough TO resharpen after the butt
begins to decay.
Another advantage is that as thorough
and effective work can be done with four
sprayings in a string yard as can be ac-
compiished with eight where poles are