No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 513 



MR. BROWN. — My experience of mixing lime, sulphur and salt 

 without boiling has been that it is equall;) as effective as the boiled 

 wash. I first employed this method in 1903, and was followed in 

 1904 by others, who report success. When I started using lime, 

 sulphur and salt four years ago, I used it according to the Cali- 

 fornia method, boiling it one and a half hours, using the full formula, 

 40 pounds of lime, 20 pounds of sulphur, 15 pounds of salt and 60 

 gallons of water. We have a rigid law in Delaware, making spray- 

 ing practically compulsory. Our first infestations of scale are 

 traced as coming to us from New Jersey. Owing to the generally 

 bad effect of oil, I was led to use the less dangerous but more 

 effective wash, lime, sulphur and salt. The first two years I used it, 

 as already stated according to the California method. This being so 

 laborious and slow, and in view of the fact that good lime when 

 slacking generates a heat of about 300 degrees, I conceived the 

 idea of making this wash by allowing the lime to cook it, and I pro- 

 ceeded in the following manner: 



I took 20 pounds of pure sulphur, put it into a vessel, poured over 

 it a little at a time, 2 gallons of boiling water, stirring well all the 

 time, this gave me an excellent sulphur paste. I then took a barrel 

 that would hold 60 gallons, put into it 40 pounds of the very best 

 stone lime obtainable, onto this lime I poured 12 gallons of boiling 

 water, I immediately added the sulphur paste previously prepared, 

 covered the barrel quickly with a double burlap sack, and left this 

 mass cook for 25 minutes, occasionally stirring it a little with an old 

 hoe, but not sufficient to intercept the boiling. When boiling ceases 

 I fill up with warm water the required 60 gallons, then add the 15 

 pounds of salt, stir well, strain well into spray tank and supply 

 when fresh and hot to obtain best results. If this has been prop- 

 erly made it should stick on the tree when it strikes it like good 

 paint, when it runs like water it is no good and had better be thrown 

 away. I have added the caustic potash to continue the boiling and 

 do not believe it is any benefit but rather an injury as it will under 

 certain conditions precipitate the lime, as you will always find a 

 larger residue of lime where a barrel of the wash is sprayed out 

 when caustic potash has been used, than where it has been left out. 



My use of lime, sulphur and salt has been extremely satisfactory, 

 although I have not been able to fully eradicate it on six Stark 

 apple trees 25 years old. I believe this wholly due, however, to the 

 hairy character of the outermost tips of apple branches upon which 

 it is extremely difficult to get the lime, sulphur coat to stick. 



This wash is a sovereign remedy, and as good a fungicide as it is 

 an insecticide, thus performing two offices at one application. 



Its use is not attended with any danger whatever, while great care 

 must be exercised in the use of oil. 



I liave been very successful in my method of preparing this wash, 

 and hundreds of growers who have followed this plan in 1004 have 

 been equally successful. In inexperienced or indifferent hands I 

 would recommend boiling the wash, but in mpfhodical, careful hands, 

 much time and expense can be saved by following my method. 



DR. KOONS.— What is the difference in kind of sulphur used? 



MR. BROWN. — Snb-limed sulphur is supposed to contain more 



33—7—1904 



