THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 555 



siilphur-Avater mixture is added and the steam turned on. The solution 

 is brought up to the 40-gallon mark by the addition of more water. 

 The time of starting the steam is set down by the boilerman on a chart 

 opposite barrel No. 1, so that close account of the time of cooking may 

 be kept. Weighing materials and closely attending to the steam valves, 

 to keep the solutions boiling at the highest point, leave these two men 

 little idle time. 



The time of cooking is usually about 40 minutes, but sometimes runs 

 a little over, and not infrequently the batch is ready to come oif at 

 35 minutes. When finished the solution should have a deep reddish 

 color and be free from undissolved sulphur. With a little practice this 

 point may be easily determined by an examination of a sample. As 

 soon as cooked the valve at the bottom of the barrel is opened and the 

 material is strained and run into the storage tanks (Fig. 109 and 

 Fig. 112). 



The storage of the finished concentrate threatened to be quite a 

 problem, but was cleared up by a suggestion from Mr. Gray. It is 

 very important to keep the air aAvay from the solution and ]\Ir. Gray 

 suggested that our large tanks, at first intended for settling purposes, 

 be used for storage and a film of oil floated over the top of the solution 

 to exclude the air. This scheme has worked perfectly, and with the 

 addition of a quarter of an inch of heavy lubricating oil on the surface 

 of our first batch, we have been able to keep four succeeding runs, as 

 well, in excellent condition until used up. I believe lime-sulphur will 

 keep indefinitely in this way and at a considerable saving of expense 

 and trouble. 



A certain amount of sediment will always settle out after running 

 into the tanks, but it amounts to only a small percentage of the total 

 volume, if good materials are used and the solution is properly cooked. 

 When any considerable amount has collected in the tanks from several 

 runs, it may be dumped on the orchards or thrown out. If a suction 

 pump is used (Fig. 113) all the good material may be drawn otf from 

 above this "sludge" Avithout disturbing it. 



In using the solution three or four barrels, or whatever is needed for 

 a day's supply, are drawn off in the morning before starting, so that 

 only four . or five extra barrels need be kept on hand. When lime- 

 sulphur solutions are purchased the barrels and containers are a source 

 of considerable expense and annoyance, and the money tied up on one 

 carload of containers may cover the cost of an entire plant for home 

 manufacture. If the commercial article is purchased in wooden 

 barrels, $90 must be added to the initial cost of a carload of spray 

 solution. Wooden barrels are continually leaking, are often broken 

 in shipment, and must always be protected from the weather. If the 

 solution comes in expensive iron containers $360, or over a third more 

 than the cost of a home plant, must be paid to cover the cost of these ; 

 in addition a rental charge and consequent annoyance result from 

 drums kept over a certain length of time. The trouble and expense of 



