1907 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 75 



Devices for Boiling. 



Much, the handiest and cheapest method of boiling is that a number of 

 farmers should club together and hire a man to boil for them with a steam- 

 engine. An ordinary threshing engine is generally used. An engine of 

 this sort can be so adjusted as to boil from eight to ten barrels at once. A 

 number of farmers have small upright steam generators, each of which costs 

 about |125. This is a very satisfactory method of boiling. Many farmers, 

 however, are doing excellent work with ord nary large iron kettles, each 

 holding about 20 to 25 gallons. These are either placed in a brick arch or 

 are enclosed by sheet iron so as to concentrate the heat and prevent the wind 

 from blowing the flames in every direction. One enterprising young Eng- 

 lishman had no engine or kettle, so he made a tight-fitting box of planks 

 about 6 X 4 X lA ft. in size and covered the bottom and sides of this with 

 sheet-iron to prevent the wood from catching fire. A small foundation about 

 a foot high was built for the box to rest upon. An opening was left in the 

 front of this to throw fuel in and a stove pipe arranged at the other end to 

 draw oft the smoke and create a draft. Upon the box a cover was placed of 

 boards nailed together but with an opening along the centre to work a hoe 

 in to stir the liquid. This simple device worked splendidly and good mix- 

 tures were made by it. 



It is perhaps unnecessary to say that very few of the fruit-growers are 

 to-day using the self-boiled method of preparing the wash. It has not given 

 nearly so good satisfaction as the other method. 



Things to Observe in Spraying. 



One often hears a great deal about the unpleasantness that accompanies 

 the use of lime-sulphur. Much of this objection can be removed by attend- 

 ing to the following points : (1) Every precaution should be taken to choose 

 as convenient a place as possible for making and loading the spray. This 

 place should not be allowed to become muddy. The use of a few boards 

 and the digging of a little drain if necessary can usually remedy this de- 

 fect. (2) Spraying should be done only with and never against the wind. 

 (3) Long hose should be used so that the driver and horse need not be brought 

 close to the tree, and so may escape getting covered with the spray. (4) 

 Workmen should be provided with suitable gloves to protect their hands. 

 (5) A nozzle that will not easily clog, such as the "Friend" or "Simplex" 

 should be used. Of course the spray should be carefully strained before 

 it enters the tank. 



To give satisfactory results good, careful spraying must be done. A day 

 or two after an orchard has been sprayed, the spray-wagon should be taken 

 over it again and any twigs or branches that have been missed can then 

 be clearly seen and sprayed. Unless every part of the tree is drenched, 

 the best results cannot be obtained. Some fruit-growers take so much care 

 to see that every tree is thoroughly done that they even go through the or- 

 chard a third time to touch up any poorly sprayed places. 



The Best Time to Spray. 



I have not yet had a chance to test the merits of fall spraying. It is 

 well known that it does not meet with so much favor as spring spraying. 

 There is no doubt, however, that if a man knows that for some special reason 

 he is likely to be unable to spray in the spring, he should by all means do 

 so in the autumn as soon as the leaves fall. Of the spraying that is done 



