130 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



In preparing the mixtures and solutions, the formulae given on the spraying calendars 

 prepared by the Central Experimental Farm and similar institutions, shotdd be 

 followed as closely as possible. If a man knows the chemical composition of the 

 materials he uses, and has made a special study of spraying, he may alter them slightly 

 to meet certain circumstances, but if his knowledge of the materials used goes no fur- 

 ther than the name, he should follow the instructions closely. He should also do his 

 spraying at the seasons suggested. A delay of a few days may mean the loss of prac- 

 tically all the mixture or solution used without getting anything in return. 



EXPERIMENTS WITH LIME MIXTURES FOR THE ERADICATION 



OF SCALE INSECTS. 



During the winter of 1898-9, experiments were conducted at the Central Experi- 

 mental Earm in the whitewashing of trees to retard the swelling of the buds in spring. 

 Among the trees sprayed were some apple trees which were infested with the oyster- 

 shell bark-loTxse. When the whitewash came off the trees during the summer it was 

 found that they were practically free of that insect. The old scales had disappeared 

 and scarcely any new ones could be found. The bark of the trees was much brighter 

 and cleaner also than those which had not been sprayed. No notes had been taken as 

 to how much the trees had been infested with the scales the previous autumn, but 

 there was good evidence to show that they had been there. There had been 6 tree 5 

 sprayed and they were all nearly equally clean. The formula used for the wash was 

 lime, 60 pounds ; water, 24 gallons ; skim milli, 6 gallons. A thick mixture and one 

 rather hard to get through the spray pump, but it made a good wash for the purpose 

 it was intended, namely, to whiten the trees. 



Although such good results had been obtained, it was not known at that time 

 whether the strong mixture or the number of sprayings had most to do with the 

 removal of the scales. The trees had been sprayed six times. If it were necessary to 

 spray as often as that to rid the trees of the oyster-shell bark-louse it would not prove 

 an economical practice. Experiments were therefore planned to discover, if possible, 

 how many applications were necessary. 



Eollowing -are the results obtained. The formula used was simply 2 pounds 

 lime to 1 gallon of water. Notes were taken before spraying the trees as to how badly 

 each tree was infested with the scales. The trees were sprayed on November 17, 20, 27, 

 and December 7, 1899. The mixture did not stick nearly as well as when skim milk 

 had been used the previous winter and was peeling off badly ten days after it was 

 applied. The words ' slightly ', ' considerably ' and ' badly ', indicate the degree of 

 infestation, and while not exact, give an idea of the amount of scales on the trees. 

 When only a few scales are said to be on the trees it means that the tree was prac- 

 tically rid of them and only an occasional scale could be found. 



EXERIMENT MADE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1899. 



Formula Used, 

 i^uniber of Trees Sprayed. 

 Numbei-'^of Times Sprayed. 



2 lbs lime ; 1 gallon water. 



5 trees 

 Sprayed twice .... 



6 trees 

 Sprayed three times. 



2 trees. 

 Sprayed four times . 



How 



Infested before Spraying, 

 November, 1899. 



All considerably 



.1 'our badly ; two considerably . . 



One considerably ; one b:»dly 



How 



Infested after Sprnying, 

 Ndvciuher, i9U0. 



Three with scarcely any scales 

 left ; two slightly. 



Three with scarcely any scales 

 left ; one slightly ; two con- 

 siderably. 



Only a few scales left on lx)th. 



