370 



REMEDIES. 



To make 45 pounds of Xo. lo, one fifth of the total weifrht 

 should be potash and four fifths caustic soda. 



Example. — -g^ of 4o pounds equals 9 pounds ; f of 4') pounds 

 equals 36 pounds, giving 1> pounds of potash and 36 jtounds 

 of caustic soda in 45 pounds of the mixture. 



As many fruit-growers are not acquainted with the use of 

 the alkalimeter, and mistakes are liable to occur in the use of 

 the alkaline solutions, I recommend the following simple test 

 which will at least be a partial protection against the use of 

 solutions of sufficient density to injure the tree, or, on the 

 contrary, deficient in density to give the result required : 



Figr. 375. Fig. 375 represents an egg 



(hen's egg). The circular 

 lines marked i, 2., 3 and 4 are 

 intended to show gauges of 

 density of the solutions. 



In all cases the solution must 

 he thoroughh/ stirred from the 

 bottom of the vessel in uhich it 

 !■•< dissolved, before testiiKj or 

 t (I Ling away any portion of it 

 to use 0?? trees, etc. 



A\'hen the mixture is thor- 

 oughly dissolved, stir well, 

 and then test the density by 

 l)iacing in the solution the 

 hen's egg. (In all tests of this 

 kind the egg used should not l)e more than twenty-four hours 

 laid, and as near to a globular form as possible.) If the 

 surface of the egg above the solution is more than the size of 

 No. 4. the solution is too strong for use. This can be reduced 

 to 'S^ by adding water. If the surface of the egg above the 

 solution is equal to No. 3^ it is just the right strength, and equal 

 to Remedy No. 12. If the surface of the egg above the solution 

 is the size of No. 3, it is equal to Remedy No. 11. If the egg 

 just floats or shows a speck above the solution the size of No. 

 H, it is equal to one pound of Remedy No. 12 to 1^ gallons of 

 water. In lye made from wood ashes the egg will just float in 

 a solution equal to one pound of lye to one and one quarter 



