THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. ( i 



plete. The speaker was present and assisted in the graduation of the 

 first machine which was used at the Limoneira Ranch and this was grad- 

 uated on the basis of .the above figures. The cyanide graduate was marked 

 off into units of 2|- fluid ounces, each unit representing one ounce by 

 weight of sodium cyanide. To facilitate calculations, the acid graduate 

 was marked off into units of 1| fluid ounces, so that a dosage of cyanide 

 solution and the acid can be very easily correlated in corresponding 

 units; that is. for a tree requiring a dosage of 8 ounces of cyanide, the 

 solution would be brought up to the 8 mark in the cyanide graduate and 

 the acid also brought up to the 8 mark in its graduate. When these 

 two charges are brought together, it corresponds to the usual formula 

 of 1-11-2. 



Deterioration of Cyanide Solution. 



Some fear has been expressed that the cyanide solutions made up in 

 advance of the work might deteriorate on standing over a period of a 

 week or ten days, which might possibly be necessitated by unfavorable 

 fumigation weather. This point has been tested out over a period of 

 about three months and it can be very safely said that no fear need be 

 entertained on this point under ordinary conditions. 



During this investigation, however, the weather was rather cool, and 

 it was found that cyanide solutions materially deteriorate when exposed 

 to the direct sunlight. As a precautionary measure, therefore, it is 

 advised to keep the stock solution of cyanide in as cool a place as 

 possible and not to make up the solutions very far in advance until this 

 point is determined under more unfavorable weather conditions. 

 Cyanide solution has been stored in the laboratory at Berkeley, sealed 

 in a tin can, for three months. Recent examination showed only very 

 slight decomposition, although the odor of ammonia could be plainly 

 detected upon opening the can. The same effects were also noted in 

 regard to solutions kept in ordinary glass bottles for the same length 

 of time. It may be stated in this connection also that the weather 

 conditions in Berkeley are somewhat cooler than in many parts of the 

 state. 



The Drip From the End of the Hose. 



The point was noticed in watching the work of the machine that 

 there appeared at the end of the delivery hose a certain amount of 

 fluid, usually amounting to not more than a teaspoonful, but in one 

 case about four ounces of this was collected after the charge was deliv- 

 ered. It was thought that possibly this drip when falling upon the 

 tents might disintegrate the cloth. All of the experiments on thi.s 

 subject, however, indicate that the material is quite harmless in this 

 respect. 



A chemical analysis showed this liquid to be chiefly water. The 

 amount of hydrocyanic acid was about two tenths of one per cent. The 

 principal solid found was sodium sulfate. Considerable of this liquid 

 was accidentally spattered over a square foot or so of a tent in operation 

 at the Limoneira Ranch. The tent was carefully marked and later 

 observations showed no evident disintegration of the cloth. The end of 

 the hose was wiped out with a pocket handkerchief, which was wrapped 

 up and kept for some little time. Subsequent examination showed no 

 ill effects to the cloth. The solution was also evaporated on filter paper 

 and the fiber of the paper was not in the least affected. It seems reason- 



