No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 583 



for a remedy which is cheap, efficient, and easy of application, yet 

 not injurious to trees. I am afraid too many of us consider our 

 time wasted which we spend working among our fruit trees. The 

 Scale is simply a reminder and an awakener to the fact that in the 

 past our fruit trees suffered for want of care and attention. A 

 series of experiments were recently undertaken to determine, if pos- 

 sible, the cause of some failures with the Lime-sulphur-salt wash 

 and its variations, in controlling the San Jose" as well as other scale 

 insects. Other remedies, such as Kerosene and its variations, 

 Whale Oil Soap, Warren "Sand Oil" and Caustic Soda were also 

 used. 



The failure of an insecticide may be caused in many instances by 

 the mode of application, improper preparation of materials, poor 

 classes of crude material, and inferior apparatus, rather than by 

 the material actually used in spraying. This is especially true in 

 the case of the Lime-sulphur-salt wash. In preparing this material 

 the several processes to be carried out have a tendency, at the best 

 to invite carelessness, although under such a condition this can be 

 more safely used, with success, than can any other insecticide. Care 

 should be taken to select a good grade of fresh stone lime in order 

 to get the best chemical combination possible. 



The following are the results of using the Lime-sulphur-salt wash 

 and its variations, — a wide degree of effectiveness being noticeable. 



1. Lime-sulphur-salt, self-heated but not boiled with fire, and used 

 in the proportion of 22 lbs. Lime, 17 lbs. Sulphur, and 61bs. Salt to 

 50 gals, water, was applied to 50 peach trees. The application was 

 made on Nov. 15th, and an examination in early January showed 

 45 per cent, of the Scale dead. Another application of the same 

 material on pear and plum on November 2nd showed 65 per cent, of 

 dead scale in January. 



2. Lime-sulphur-salt (Formula, 22 lime, 17 sulphur, 10 salt, 50 gal 

 Ions w 7 ater), boiled for one-half hour, sprayed on moderately in- 

 fested trees. Nov. 23rd, showed 73 per cent, dead scale on the last 

 examination, on Jan. 11th. 



3. The same materials boiled three-fourths hour and applied to 

 badly encrusted apple, plum and pear, on Nov. 2nd, showed eighty 

 per cent, of dead scale in January. 



4. On boiling Lime-sulphur-salt one hour in the former propor- 

 tions and spraying on peach trees, 96 per cent, of the scale insects 

 were found dead. This variation from No. 2 of 23 per cent, in the 

 number of dead scale should show the importance of boiling for at 

 least one hour. 



5. At the side of these trees, Lime, Sulphur and Caustic Soda (not 

 boiled) (22, 17, 6), was used on the same varieties of trees, and at the 

 same time, — only 65 per cent, of the Scale being dead on examination 

 at the same date. 



6. Lime and Sulphur (22, 17, 50), applied on badly encrusted peach 

 trees on November 18th, showed 75 per cent, dead scale insects on 

 Jan. 11th. 



7. Lime-Sulphur-Concentrated-Lye (22, 17, 2| lbs.), boiled one hour, 

 showed 85 per cent, dead Jan. 11th. 



8. Lime-Sulphur-Caustic-Soda (22, 17, 6 lbs. in 50 gal. water), boiled 

 one hour, gave 80 per cent, dead at the same time. 



