Milford chronicle., 1915-02-05
WHY, HOW AND
WHEN TO SPRAY.

The prospects for the fruit growing in
dustry in this country could not be bet
ter, and it is the opinion that good, clean
| sprayed fruit will always command a
price that will be highly profitable to the
grower.
! There is no danger of an over-produc-
ton of fruit, but what we must overcome
is under-consumption, which is brought
about by the marketing of small, scaly,
wormy fruit that is unfit for use.
When the consumer sees this fruit dis
played in the stores, he has no desire for
it.
Just as soon as fruit growers generally
wake up to the fact that it is improbable
to market poor class of fruit. and begin
to prune, spray, ferIilize and cultivate
their fruit, the consumption will automat-
ically increase as the very sight of nice.
clean, sound, rosy checked fruit which is
bound to result from scientific methods
in culture, will create an appetite and de-
sire for this fruit on the part of the Gus
toners, and thereby increase the con-
sumption.
These conditions are confronting the
fruit grower to-day, and he must recOg-
nize them if the fruit growing industry
of the future is to be a success.
The necessity of spraying to prevent
the ravages of insect and fungus pests is
no longer q 7estioned: but the results OBJ
tanned by different growers have been
varied for the reason that some growers
do not do the work thoroughly, and
therefore do not get satisfactory results,
while others who have given the sub
ject of spraying careful study and do the
work thoroughly, year in and year out,
have reaped big profits.
Even when properly done the results
obtained from spraying are not uniform
from year to year, as some years condi- |
tons are more favorable to the develop |
ment of insect and fungus pests than
others. These conditions are RESPONSE !
BILE for the fact that some growers who |
have tried spraying only one year con-
demn it on the grounds that it did not |
increase their yield or the quality of their
fruit. The successful growers spray every
year rather as preventative than cure,
and it is this thorough systematic spray
ng that is responsible for their success
and large profits.
One of the reasons why spraying is
more necessary now than years ago is
hat the forests have largely been de-
luded and the insects which inhabited
hem are compelled to prey on fruit and
ruck crops. This condition is growing
rom year to year and the only remedy is
borough spraying. The San Jose Scale
specially has presented a serious prom
EN- for the fruit grower, but where
proper spraying methods were used the
lisease has been kept in control or eradi-
ated entirely.
The question of scale is merely ques-
ion of spraying with the proper solu-
ions at the right time.
The spread of the scale disease, which
as been largely due to the neglect on
he part of farmers generally to spray |
1eir orchards has brought about the
nactment of compulsory spraying laws.
Some states have taken hand in the
latter because they have been solicited #
y the progressive growers who spray
ieir trees and want their neighbors to
pray also not as a protection to them
ut to the fruit industry at large, and
ecause they realize the importance of II
nit growing as a business. II
The profits to be derived from spraying II
e not BY any means confined to the ii
nit industry as is indicated by the re- III
Its obtained by the experiment stations. III
Numerous field and truck crops, in
uding sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peas, III
bbage, cauli1ower, asparagus, celery, ii
ans. cucumbers, beets, grapes, berries,
rrants and melons, require spraying II
+ fungus and insect pests.
" As ye spray, so shall ye reap" L