26 
slaked in a small quantity of water, say one-third the full dilution. 
The sulphur, previously mixed up into a stiff paste, should be added 
at once to the slaking lime. The whole mixture should be boiled for 
at least one hour, either in an iron kettle over a fire out of doors or in 
barrels by steam. Prolonged boiling increases the percentage of the 
higher sulphides, but the practical end is obtained by boiling for the 
time indicated. In-the process of making, the color changes from 
yellow to the clear brown of sulphide of lime, except for the excess 
of lime floating in it. After an hour’s boiling the full quantity of cold 
water can be added, and the mixture should then be promptly applied 
in order to get its full strength before the higher sulphides are lost 
by cooling and crystallizing out. In transferring to the spray tank 
it should be passed through an iron screen or strainer, and the tank 
itself should be provided with an effective agitator. 
Directions for use.—The wash is a winter application and can not 
be applied to trees in leaf. It may be applied at any time after the 
falling of foliage in early winter and prior to the swelling of the buds 
in spring. The later the application can be made the better the re- 
sults, and the best period is just vefore the buds swell in March or 
April. It will probably be necessary also to make this application 
every year, or at least as often as the San Jose scale develops in any 
numbers. The wash kills the San Jose scale not only by direct caustic 
action, but also by leaving a limy coating on the trees, which remains 
in evidence until midsummer or later and kills or prevents the settling 
of young scale insects which may come from parents escaping the 
winter action. 
The wear on pumps and nozzles can be kept to a minimum by care- 
fully washing the apparatus promptly after use. The Vermorel 
nozzle is the best one for the wash, and additional caps may be se- 
cured to replace worn ones. The use of an air or other gas pressure 
pump instead of the ordinary liquid pump will save the wear of the 
lime on the pump. In spraying with this wash clothing is ruined, 
and only the oldest garments should be worn. Care should be taken 
also to protect the eyes to avoid unnecessary inflammation. 
Range of usefulness.—This wash is distinctively the remedy for the 
San Jose scale and is particularly effective in applications to the 
smooth-barked fruit trees—such as peach, pear, and plum. In the 
case of the apple the terminal twigs are often covered with a fuzzy 
growth, more pronounced in some varieties than others, which pre- 
vents the wash from properly coating the bark. The young from 
scale insects which escape destruction at such points, for the reason 
indicated or from imperfect spraying, are driven out onto the new 
growth, or, in the case of fruit spurs, onto the fruit, so that a tree on 
which the scale has been pretty thoroughly exterminated may never- 
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