B. P. I.— 552. 



THE SUBSTITUTION OF LIME-SULPHUR PREPy\KA- 



TIONS FOR BORDEAUX MIXTURE IN THE 



TREATMENT OF APPLE DISEASES," 



INTRODUCTION. 



In recent years Bordeaux mixture has come into ill favor among 

 the apple growers on account of its injurious effect upon tlie fruit 

 and foliage of certain varieties, and there is a growing demand for a 

 reliable fungicide which can be used for the control of apple diseases 

 without producing such injury. Bordeaux mixture is undoubtedly 

 the best all-around fungicide known, and it is unfortunate that the 

 apple growers have to consider the possibility of giving it up; but 

 the russeting of the fruit and the burning of the foliage caused by it 

 are so objectionable that it seems highly desirable, if not necessary, 

 to adopt a less injurious fungicide even at the risk of a partial sacri- 

 fice of efficiency in the control of diseases. The subject of Bordeaux 

 injury has recently been admirably discussed by Prof. U. P. Hedrick,^ 

 of New York, and by Prof. C. S. Crandall,'^ of Illinois, and wnll be 

 considered only incidentally in this paper. 



During the past three years the writer has been working on the 

 problem of securing a satisfactory substitute for Bordeaux mixture 

 and not without some success. The self-boiled lime-sulphur wash 

 which was developed primarily for spraying peach trees has been 

 found to be an excellent spray for the control of mild cases of apple 

 diseases and to be entirely harmless to fruit and foliage. The con- 

 centrated lime-sulphur solutions, both commercial and home pre- 

 pared, when diluted to contain about 4 pounds of sulphur to 50 gal- 



o Acknowledgment is hereby made of th(> hearty cooperation and assistance given 

 the writer of this paper in his investigations by tlie Strathmore Orchard Company, of 

 Mount Jackson, Va., and the Elm Springs Orchard f'omj)any, of Fishersvill(\ Va., 

 and also by Messrs. M. F. Gilkersoii, of Staunton, Va., and W. S. Ballard, of Crozet, 

 Va., in whose orchards the experiments and demonstrations were conducted. — G. H. 

 PowEix, Acting CMrf of Bureau. 



b Bulletin 287, New York (Geneva) Agricultural Experiment Station. 1908. 



c Bulletin 135, Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station. 1909. 



[Cir. .^-.4] 3 



