Does it pay to Spray?

Probably in no other country in the world is spraying of fruits practised to the same extent as in the United States. Five years ago spraying for fungous diseases was practically unknown even there. Now, as a fair estimate, probably no less than fifty thousand fruit-growers are engaged in this work of spraying their vines for mildew, black-spot, &c., and their apples, peaches, apricots, and other fruits for numerous fungoid diseases, in accordance with suggestions originating in their Department of Agriculture.

To give a more direct answer to the question, however, it may be stated that last season two hundred and fifty grape-growers in different parts of that country made a series of observations with a view of obtaining some definite information as to the value in hard cash of the recommendations made in the treatment of grape-diseases. The facts reported by these men show conclusively that the actual profit to them over all expenses resulting from the treatment of black-rot and downy-mildew was in round numbers £7,500. This is a tolerably conclusive answer to the question, Does it pay to spray?