114 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1906 



2. By using lime slaked immediately before mixing the quantity may be materially 

 reduced. A perfect emulsion can be made by slaking ^ lb. of good quick lime and emul- 

 eifying with 1 quart of kerosene and 2 gallons of water. 



A further advantage in vising freshly slaked lime for orchard purposes lies in the 

 fact that it more thoroughly whitens the trees than the emulsion made with the air- 

 slaked lime. This enables the operator the easier to observe the degree of thoroughness 

 with which the spraying is done. 



3. By the use of freshly slaked lime less time is needed for the churning in order 

 to bring the mass to a perfect emulsion. From three to five minutes will be found suffi- 

 cient to make the emulsion. 



4. It is not apparently a matter of much moment that the lime be dry and powdery 

 when mixed with the kerosene. Excellent emulsions have been made both from the air- 

 slaked and freshly slaked lime when they have been quite moist or even made into a 

 thin cream with water before adding the kerosene. 



FLOUR EMULSION. 



While conducting the experiments already referred to, it was discovered by Mr. 

 Shutt that flour could be successfully substituted for lime. It was found by experiment 

 that 8 ounces of flour was sufficient to hold in suspension 1 quart of kerosene, and even 

 2 ounces would make a temporary emulsion for immediate use. If the flour were 

 scalded before adding the kerosene 2 ounces were found sufficient to make an emul- 

 sion which would stay up for more than a week. The operation of making kerosene 

 emulsion with flour is very simple. The kerosene is first poured into a dry pail or 

 barrel, the flour is then added and the two stirred together. Water is now added to 

 make the desired percentage and the emulsion is then made by churning vigorously 

 for about four or five minutes. If made in the proportion of 1 quart kerosene to 2 

 gallons of water the emulsion will contain about 11 per cent of kerosene, which is a 

 safe amount to use for most plants in summer. The flour emulsion is smooth, readily 

 and easily atomized, and does not clog the nozzle. Although no free kerosene will 

 appear for several days at least, any separation into layers may be readily overcome or 

 remedied by simply stirring the mixture. 



When the flour emulsion is used there is no noticeable whitening of the tree or 

 foliage, which is an advantage where ornamental shrubs are to be treated and where 

 the whitening of the foliage is objectionable, but this is a disadvantage, however, in 

 spraying fruit trees where the thoroughness of the work is of prime importance, as 

 when the flour emulsion is used one cannot so readily see if the work has been well 

 done. The chief advantages of the flour emulsion are that it is easily made, and also 

 can be used when good lime cannot be obtained. This flour emulsion may be added to 

 Bordeaux mixture, and Bordeaux mixture and Paris green if desired. 



Experiments conducted at the Central Experimental Farm this year to test the 

 effect of the lime and flour kerosene emulsions were not conclusive, but the indications 

 are that these emulsions are not so effective as the ordinary kerosene emulsion made 

 with soap, the soap evidently playing an important part in the destruction of sucking 

 insects. 



In reply to a letter addressed to Mr. E. D. Smith, M.P., who had used the Kero- 

 sene Emulsion made with flour in fighting aphis on his nursery stock in 1905, the fol- 

 lowing letter was received: — 



Dear Sir, — Yours to hand in regard to the kerosene emulsion with flour. It 

 ^vorked very well. We had no trouble when it was thoroughly agitated. We had no 

 damage from tlie use of it, as we have had in previous years when made in the old 

 v,ay. 



' Yours truly, 



E. D. SMITH. 



