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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



allow it to stand'^30 minutes or more. This method of prepara- 

 tion gives an excellent compound so far as deep color and little 

 sediment is concerned, provided it is properly prepared, and one of 

 the essentials in making it, appears to be thorough stirring at the 

 outset in order to intimately mix the lime, sal soda and sulfur. A 

 deep red or even pea-green color should be secured if the material 

 is well mixed. Strain and dilute with cold water to 50 gallons. 

 This wash sprays nicely, and in the experiments commenced last 

 spring, has given as good results in killing San Jos6 scale as any 

 of the lime-sulfur washes. It has several advantages. It requires 

 no boiling and the sal soda is a common material, easily handled 

 and obtainable in almost every locality. It is also a little cheaper 

 than the amount of caustic soda advised in preparing a similar 

 quantity of wash. This material has been used but one season, 

 and owing to its apparent merits we decided to put the formula 

 in the hands of several of our associates. It was unfortunately 

 sent out late, consequently not all could give it a thorough trial, 

 but Professor Lochhead of the Ontario Agricultural College, states 

 that in his hands it was just as successful as other lime-sulfur 

 washes, and others obtained from good to excellent results in spite 

 of their inability to give it a thorough trial. It is certainly a prom- 

 ising combination and one which should be tested more thoroughly 

 another spring. 



It would hardly be advisable to use either the caustic soda or 

 sal soda washes just at present as fall sprays, since Professor Par- 

 rott of the State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva, has 

 observed more twig injury where a caustic soda wash was used 

 than where the ordinary boiled lime-sulfur wash was employed, 

 and as our wash is practically a caustic soda wash (the caustic soda 

 being obtained from the sal soda), it is advisable to be cautious 

 about applying this material in the fall, though further experi- 

 ments may show very little or no injury resulting from such treat- 

 ment. 



It is perhaps wise in this connection to reiterate the absolute 

 necessity of thoroughness in treatment if the San Jos6 scale is to 

 be controlled by spraying. Our best orchardists have found it 

 advisable to take advantage of the wind so far as possible and 

 wherever practical to go over the trees twice, the second time 

 when the wind is in a different direction from what it was during 

 the first treatment. Another factor which has perhaps not been 

 duly emphasized, is the necessity of having good lime. It should 

 be a lime that will slake vigorously, and the more heat generated, 



