260 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



LIME-SULPHUR SPRAY. 



Liine-sulphur spray is fast supplanting Bordeaux mixture in many of our fruit- 

 growing districts as a fungicidal wash, especially as a preventive against apple spot. 

 It is not improbable that this increasing popularity is due in a large measure to the 

 ease with which the spray may be prepared — simple dilution only being necessary — 

 when the concentrated wash is purchased. Home manufacture of the lime-sulphur 

 wash, once so common, is now comparatively rare. It is certainly a somewhat trouble- 

 some operation and it entails a determination of the strength of the resultant wash 

 in order to arrive at the correct dilution necessary before it is ready for use. How- 

 ever, for those who consider it the more economical to prepare the wash and who have 

 facilities for the work, formulas and directions will be found in the reports of this 

 Division for 1908 and 1909, and further assistance if desired, will be given by cor- 

 respondence. 



The commercial lime-sulphur washes upon the market have been examined by us 

 for a number of years past. Consideration of the results indicates that the larger 

 number of brands are now well-made, contain a goodly proportion of their sulphur 

 as sulphide and are of fairly uniform and satisfactory strength. In the first years 

 of this spray, inferiority due to faulty manufacture was occasionally noted, but 

 methods have evidently improved, so that now it is seldom one meets with a wash 

 that has been poorly made or is below the recognized standard strength. 



Samples of five prominent brands sold in Canada have been submitted to analysis, 

 with the following results : — 



Analysis of Lime- Sulphur Washes. 



o 

 >> 



O 



o 



H3 



11321 

 11350 

 11385 

 11386 

 14507 



Brand. 



' Vanco,' Toronto, Ont 



' Grasselli,' Cleveland and Toronto, Ont 



' Niagara,' Burlington, Ont 



' Rex,' Burlington, Ont 



' Victoria,' Victoria, B.C 



Specific 

 gravity. 



1-2076 

 1-2925 

 12S55 

 13020 

 1-3140 



Sulphur in solution. 



Total. 



p. c. 



23 20 

 25 73 



24 84 



25 51 

 2180 



As 

 sulphide. 



P 



21 

 25 

 24 

 24 

 23 



. c. 



•87 

 •09 

 00 

 •43 

 •62 



"We have in these data satisfactory evidence of good quality and they further 

 indicate, as has been noted in past years, that no great difference in strength exists 

 among the larger number of lime-sulphur washes put on the market by reputable firms. 



The questions of strength of sprays for summer and winter use, methods for 

 determining strength by the hydrometer and necessary dilution, with other informa- 

 tion relating to the concentrated and diluted wash, are discussed at some length in 

 the report of this Division for 1912, copies of which are obtainable on application. 

 The chapter will be found of interest to all orchardists using lime-sulphur spray for 

 the control of insect and fungus pests. 



SOLUBLE SULPHUR. 



This compound has recently been introduced by the Niagara Brand Spray Co., 

 Burlington, Ont, as a substitute for lirne-sulphur. It is in the form of a fine, 

 yellowish powder and for use is dissolved in water, in which it is almost entirely 

 soluble. If successful as a fungicide, it would be an important competitor of the 



