522 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



If water under pressure is available, all the better; if not, a pump 

 throwing at least a two and one-half inch stream should be provided 

 to ri'ise the water to the highest tanks. In using such a system the 

 mode of procedure would be somewhat as follows: The lime is first 

 slaked, best perhaps on the ground in a box for the purpose. In the 

 upper barrels the stock solutions are made to the required strength. 

 From these the proper quantities are run into the diluting tanks be- 

 low. Then water is pumped in to dilute the two solutions each to 

 about one-half the total quantity to be made. After thorough stir- 

 ring, these are in turn run into the mixing tank through cocks so 

 placed that the streams of copper sulphate and lime come together 

 as they fall into the tank. After thorough stirring and testing the 

 mixture is ready to be run into the spray tank. Of course, the low- 

 est tank should be placed somewhat higher than the spray tank to 

 allow the completed mixture to be conveniently run in.* 



Before closing this discussion of the preparation and use of Bor- 

 deaux mixture, it is well to call attention to a few minor details, 

 which, though apparently of little consequence, go far to lessen the 

 driidgery of spray work, and to that extent at least assist in securing 

 good results. 



In the first place, the lime milk should be carefully strained. The 

 writer fully realizes that it is no easy task to strain large quantities 

 of milk of lime; but he is at the same time convinced that some con- 

 siderable effort in this direction will be found well expended and 

 may save much vexatious clogging of the nozzles. The strainer 

 should have not fewer than twenty meshes to the inch, and should be 

 of brass wire. (Iron would be quickly corroded by the copper.) 

 The strainer should also be made as large as possible — large enough 

 to fit over the entire head of an open barrel. If the straining sur- 

 face is thus made large, the straining will be comparatively easy and 

 rapid. For extra safety the completed mixture may be strained as 

 it is run into the tank. 



When the spray tanks, barrels, pump and apparatus are to stand 

 unused for a time, they should be thoroughly cleaned by washing 

 and running through a few gallons of cheap vinegar to remove all 

 clinging particles of Bordeaux mixture. If these particles are al- 

 lowed to remain and dry, they form scales which become loosened 

 the next time the apparatus is used, and cause most vexatious and 

 discouraging delays. 



Ammoniacal Copper Carbonate Solution. 

 This spraying compound ranks very high as a fungicide, being sur- 

 passed in effectiveness only by Bordeaux mixture. It is particularly 

 valuable for use when late applications have to be made, where the 



•For a more detailed account of a mixlngr outfit successfully ueed in a lar5« apide orchard, 

 •ae Bulletin tS of the nilnola Experiment Station, page 181. 



