186 STATE BOARD OP AGillCULTURE. 



cover the fruit as thickly as Bordeaux mixture does. It can be used 

 nearer to the picking- time than can Bordeaux and not show staining. 

 This advantage makes it valuable when a late spraying of plums for 

 rot is desirable. ' Used at the rate of one gallon to sevent} -four of water 

 was satisfaetoiy in preventing rot on plums. 



Injury- to pear foliage is sometimes reported where lime and sulphur 

 is used at the rate of 1 to 33 or 40. In our own spraying there was a 

 slight burning from the use of a home-made concentrated lime and 

 sulphur testing 30 degrees Beaume used 1 to 33. Upon investigation, 

 it was found that the cap in the spray nozzle had worn large from previ- 

 ous sprayings and this threw a spray that was too heavy. Other cases 

 of reported burning, when examined into invariably result in showing 

 that the spray rod is held too long in one place or in turning at the 

 end of a roAV the tree is sprayed too much. 



Drenching the leaves with lime and sulphur when used as a fungicide 

 at the strength of 1 to 33 or 40 is not advisable. However, probably 

 1 to 50 should be used on peai*s. 



Peaches and Japanese plums which are very seriously injured by 

 spraying with Bordeaux mixture, even when used as weak as li^ pounds 

 of copper sulphate and 3 pounds of lime to 50 gallons of water were 

 sprayed with lime and sulphur testing 33 degrees Beaume at the strength 

 of 1 gallon to 49 gallons of water without injury in 1910 and 1911. 

 Reports from other states indicate injury from the strength of 1 to 

 99 gallons of water. New Jersey experiment station (Bulletin 23G) 

 reports injury from a streng"th of 1 to 100. One local fruit grower 

 who was misinformed, sprrtyed peach trees about three weeks after the 

 blossoms dropped with lime and sulphur 1 to 40 strength and did not 

 Jiave the slightest injury. 



Since there is such Avide differences in the burning of peach foliage, 

 sprayed with lime and sulphur of the same strength, it is apparent that 

 there is something aside from the proportions of materials used, to 

 cause the differences. These may be weather conditions, climate or 

 the method of application. 



During the past three seasons, we have been using the lime and 

 sulphur (33 degrees Beaume) 1 to 10 applied just before the blossoms 

 opened with the idea of making the one spraying take the place of the 

 one usually made earlier for scale and the usual one at that time of 

 Bordeaux mixture for fungus troubles. In 1910 and 1911 all the tree 

 fruits in the station orchard were sprayed tTiis way. Only slight burn- 

 ings were noticed where the trees were too heavily sprayed. At the 

 time of this spraying, the leaves and buds have a natural protection 

 that seems to prevent burning tliat would occur later. From our re- 

 sults and lluise of fruit growers in the vicinity, this system is very 

 promising. 



Respectfullv submitted, 



F. W. WILKEN, 



Superintendent. 



South Haven, Mich., June 30, 1911. 



