NATURE AND SOURCE OF SPRAYING MATERIALS. 193 



advantasfo, therefore, to offset the present duty of ^S per ton levied on 

 the refined imported sulphur, and our aoricultural population, it is 

 claimed, is duped wlien demaiidinu" French, Italian, or other European 

 refined sulphur. The same mamifacturer further states that Sicily 

 sulphur of 08 per cent purity is at present admitted to the United 

 States dutyfree, and that it can be ground or sublimed in this country 

 and sold jit a price below the cost of the imported foreioii-refined sul- 

 phur. It is also said, as to the comparative value to the horticulturist 

 'of ground (floui-) and of sublimed sulphur (flowers), that for ordinary 

 purposes domestic ground or powdered sulphur, which averages less 

 than 1 per cent of impurities, will answer all re<iuirements in a wash, 

 being finer than the imi)()rted, the onW impurity being a neutral, 

 inert volcanic ash. The sublimed sulphur, as l)efore stated, is identical 

 with the imported and contains little, if any, trace of anything but 

 elementary sulphur. It is lighter in bulk and more stringy than 

 ground sulphur (if examined under the microscope), but is not usually 

 enough better for agriciiltuial purposes to otl'set the difference in 

 price. In other words, the difference in purity percentage between 

 ground sulphur and sublimed suljjhur is not in any way commensu- 

 rate with the difi'erence in price, and a great saving could be effected 

 by substituting the former for the latter in ninety-nine cases out of a 

 hundred. 



To these views the writer would add that the flour of sulphur is cer- 

 tainly what should be used in the preparation of sprays. As to the rela- 

 tive value of flour of sulphur and flowers of sulphur for powdering vines 

 for mildew, there is a difi'erence of opinion among vine growers, the 

 ease with which the fumes are gi\"en ofi" being considered of prime 

 importance in the treatment of this disease.^ 



1 Quotations on sulphur in March, 1899, were as follows: New York quotes flour 

 of sulphur in 250 pound barrel lots at $2.20 per 100 poimds, 100 pound sacks at $2. 15 

 per 100 pounds, and car loads in barrels at $1.80 per 100 pounds, and in sacks at $1.75 

 per 100 pounds, all f . o. b. A second New York firm quotes roll brimstone at $2 per 100 

 pounds; flour of sulphur, heavyj at ;i;2.20, and light at $2.25 per 100 pounds by the 

 barrel; sublimed flowers of sulphur at $2.S7^ per 100 pounds, in carload lots, f. o. b. ; 

 roll brimstone, $1.70 per 100 pounds; flour of sulphur, heavy, 100 pound l)ags, $1.,75; 

 250 pound barrels, $1.80 per 100 pounds; light, 175 pound barrels, $1.85 per 100 

 ]50unds; flowers of sulphur, sublimed, $2 per 100 pounds. San Francisco quotes 

 powdered sulphur, sacks or barrels, by the car load at $1.50 per 100 pounds, less 

 quantity at $1.60 per 100 pounds; sublimed (flowers of sulphur), sacks or barrels, 

 car load lots, $1.75 per 100 pounds, less quantity, $1.85 per 100 pounds; roll, barrels 

 only, $1.85 per 100 pounds; refined, barrels only (quality same as roll), $1.75 per 100 

 pounds; crude, sacks, $1.40 per 100 pounds. 

 19093— No. 20 13 



