EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 421 



l)ordeaux-tnixture on both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves 

 is really the best protection to be had at present. It acts as a repellant 

 but does not cause the death of the hoppers. The spray should be ap- 

 plied upon the first appearance of the hoppers and continued at in- 

 tervals as long as they remain, with the addition of arsenate of calcium 

 or of Kedzie-mixture for flea-beetles and the Colorado potato-beetle. 



Tomatoes. 



Leaf Blight, — this disease can be prevented by the proper use of bor- 

 deaux. The standard 4-4-50 formula is the strength most commonly 

 used. The first application should be made while the plants are in 

 the seed-bed or cold-frame. The second spraying should be made soon 

 after the plants are set in the field. This should be followed by addi- 

 tional sprayings every ten days or two weeks until the fruit begins to 

 ripen. During wet seasons more and later sprayings are necessary than 

 when the weather is comparatively dry. 



Flea-Beetles, — small, black flea-beetles sometimes appear and eat pits 

 in the foliage of the tomato plant. The easiest way to control them is 

 to spray with bordeaux-mixture and arsenate of lead in the ordinai'y 

 way. Such sprays, of course, must not be continued after the fruit 

 begins to get very large. 



Tomato Worms, the large green "worms" that devour the leaves of the 

 tomato plants can be controlled when the worms are small by a spray 

 of arsenate of lead applied in the ordinary way. 



Musk MELONS and Cucumbers. 



Several insects interfere with the welfare of cucumber and melon 

 vines. The Cucumber Beetle (striped) feeds on the leaves, and 

 the young tunnel as grubs in the roots. Plant more seeds than are 

 needed to produce vines and thin out the injured plants ; also dust with 

 hydrated lime and flour of sulphur (one of sulphur to five or six of 

 lime), through coarse cloth. Some prefer turpentine, 2 or 3 tablespoon- 

 fuls to a 12-quart pail of hydrated lime. 



The Cucumber Louse, — usually starts in a few hills and then spreads 

 over the field, — ^cold, wet weather being favorable to the louse. Some 

 prefer to bury the first few vines attacked to retard spreading. A good 

 spray is Persian insect powder, % ounce to a gallon of wiater; also 

 nicotine-sulphate, % pint to 50 gallons of water, if 40 per cent sulphate 

 is used, spraying upward from beneath. The difficulty lies in getting 

 the spray on to the lice. Each louse must be fairly hit to be killed. 



The Large Black Squash-Bug, — or stink-bug, not only feeds on vines, 

 but probably also carries the wilt. It may be trapped on cold nights 

 under pieces of board and dropped into a can of water, having a little 

 kerosene on top. 



Preparation of Spray Mixtures. 



Commercial Lime-Sulphur. Commercial lime-sulphur solution is now 

 veiy generally used by Michigan fruit growers. A few growers, how- 

 ever, find it desirable to make their own concentrated lime-sulphur 

 solution although most growers feel that the convenience of obtaining 

 the commercial concentrated solution outweighs the advantage of the 



