TWENTY-THIRD ANNUAL MEETING. Ill 



for the fruit and foliage, both being nearly ruined in southern Michigan. 

 The Bordeaux mixture helps the foliage also, and so tends to make a bet- 

 ter crop the ensuing season. In making this fungicide, dissolve six 

 pounds of copper sulphate in five gallons of water, adding, when it is dis- 

 solved, fifteen gallons more. Make milk of lime by mixing four pounds 

 of unslaked lime in six gallons of water, adding this to the copper solu- 

 tion. Any force pump will do, except a small one — g§t a large one that 

 will throw a strong stream, and a nozzle that will throw a very fine spray. 

 On the whole, for Bordeaux mixture, the Vermorel nozzle is the best, but 

 no perfect one, for trees, has -yet been made. The Wellhouse nozzle, 

 invented by a Kansas man, is excellent, but is not yet made for the trade. 

 The Galloway knapsack pump is as good as any of its kind. I can not say 

 if the Bordeaux mixture will injure bees. It must be just right or it will 

 not work well. There must be lime enough to entirely neutralize the 

 accidity of the sulphate of copper. To test it, have a strong solution of the 

 yellow prussiate of potash. Add a few drops of the mixture, and if there 

 is no reaction (no change of color), all is right. If the mixture turns a 

 chocolate-red color, add more lime. Free sulphate of copper will burn 

 the trees. Have all ready before hand, and watch closely for blooming. 



Prof. L, R. Taft of Michigan Agricultural college, replying to a ques- 

 tion from Mr. Moerill, said Paris green may be added to the Bordeaux 

 mixture, and do no harm, but rather good; but it is unsafe to the foliage 

 when in the copper sulphate solutions. Continuing, Mr. Taft agreed with 

 Mr. Smith in the main, but, as to the first application, would be careful, as 

 the Bordeaux mixture may destroy bees, and it may also affect the pollen 

 and prevent fertilization. If Prof. Fairchild has tried it and proved it 

 safe, it is well; but from his own observation he could not recommend 

 spraying the open blossoms. If the mixture is applied just as the bloom 

 falls, the fungus will be held in check. He has almost completely killed 

 the fungus, and not begun until the apples were as large as cherries. He 

 would add Paris green (one pound to 200 gallons of water) to Bordeaux 

 mixture, and use for the first time after the blossom falls. The damage 

 done by scab is not appreciated by the ordinary grower. He may have 

 but a few bushels of culls, and think them of little consequence as a loss; 

 but by spraying they might have been made double their size and of full 

 market value. He would use the same strength of mixture, at first, but 

 only one third as strong for the later applications. This lessens the cost, 

 and there is less clogging of the nozzle, and it makes the Bordeaux the 

 cheapest of all the fungicides. It is well not to buy the copper sulphate 

 at the drug stores, for the price is too high. He had bought for three cents 

 per pound, and it may be had for four by the barrel, and five cents in tea- 



