PREPARATION OF THE COPPER SPRAYS. 153 



solution of copper sulphate may be used in preparing this spray. 

 Four pounds of copper to 3 pints of ammonia for 45 gallons of water 

 has also proved an effective winter spray. 



For dormant trees this spray is safe, but for the treatment of foliage 

 it is too corrosive and burning. Tt is also quite corroding to nozzles and 

 other metallic portions of the spraying outfit. 



MODIFIKI) EAir CELESTE. 



The modified eau celeste is less injurious to foliage than the eau 

 celeste, but is more liable to injure tender leaves and l)udsthan is well- 

 made Bordeaux mixture. Its preparation is nearly as simple as that 

 of the eau celeste. To 4 pounds of copper sulphate dissolved in 10 or 

 1:^ gallons of water add 3 pints of strong ammonia, dilute with water 

 to 45 gallons, and stir in this mixture 5 pounds of sal soda (common 

 washing soda) until dissolved. In preparing this spray of different 

 strengths the same proportions of the chemicals may ha maintained. 



AMMONIACAL COPPER CARBONATE. 



The ammoniacal copper carbonate spray is one of great usefulness 

 in the treatment of fruits for fungous diseases, espc^-ially where the 

 spotting of fruits by the ase of lime is to l)e avoided. The fungicidal 

 value of this spray is, however, far inferior to the ordinary Bordeaux 

 mixture. In the treatment of peach leaf curl it has proved less satis- 

 factory than several of the other copper sprays. 



The manner of preparing this spray is simple. Place 5 ounces of 

 copper carbonate in the bottom of a 3-gallon crock. From a 2-gallon 

 vessel full of water pour about one-half pint of water upon the copper 

 carbonate and stir the latter until it becomes like paste. Now add the 

 remainder of the 2 gallons of water, stir again, and then pour into 

 the mixture 3 pints of 26'^ ammonia. After this has been thoroughly 

 stirred, it should ]>e covered and allowed to stand for half an hour, 

 when the whole should be added to a barrel containing 43 gallons of 

 water. When well mixed this spray is ready to be applied. 



A concentrated solution of copper carbonate in strong ammonia may 

 be made as above described, using but one-half of the amount of water. 

 If such a solution is very tightly stoppered in a large demijohn or jug 

 it may be kept as a stock solution, ready for use at any time. By 

 knowing the amount of copper carbonate in each quart of such a stock 

 solution enough may he measured out at any time to prepare a given 

 number of gallons of spray of any desired strength. 



The copper carbonate used in the preparation of the present spray 

 is frequently not obtainable in quantity at the drug stores in smaller 

 towns. It is also frequently the case that druggists in such places 

 charge two or three and sometimes four or five times as much as it is 

 worth, making the ultimate cost of the spray beyond the reach of the 



