HSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES 
WOM A 
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sulphids, although in the main the liquid will consist of the simpler 
compounds of lime and sulphur; and from this fact it is to be inferred 
that these latter are by themselves effective, although a slight increase 
in efficiency may be gained by increasing the higher sulphids. 
When making this wash in quantities of 50 gallons and upwards, it 
is necessary to boil for three to five hours, and especially at the start it 
should be stirred up thoroughly to prevent caking. In the process of 
making, the color changes from a yellow to the clear brown of sulphid of 
lime except for the excess of lime floating in it. It may be prepared 
by boiling in an ordinary iron kettle or vat, but is much more satis- 
factorily made by boiling in hogsheads or barrels with steam. Where 
the wash can be prepared in the latter manner, its use is to be strongly 
recommended. It may then be made up at once with the full amount 
of water, and taken hot from the boiling tank and promptly applied so 
as to get the advantage of the higher sulphids and the full strength of 
the mixture. In transferring to the spray tank, pass it through an iron 
screen or strainer. The spray tank must be provided with an effective 
agitator. The experiments of 1900, quoted above, discuss the matter 
of temperature fully. In important fruit districts it would be well 
worth while to adopt the plan followed very commonly in California— 
of organizing spraying companies to undertake at a reasonable charge 
the preparation of the wash and the spraying of orchards. In California 
the wash is furnished and put on the trees, everything included, at a 
charge of five cents per gallon. 
PRECAUTIONS TO BE NOTED. 
This wash is a winter application and can not be apphed to trees in 
leaf. The best season is February or March. The fact that this wash 
is destructive to pumps and nozzles has already been indicated. The 
iujury in this direction can be reduced to a minimum by carefully clean- 
ing the pump each night with water. The Vermorel nozzle is the best 
one for the wash, and additional caps may be secured to replace worn 
ones. The use of an air pump instead of a liquid pump would save the 
wear of the lime onthe pump; and doubtless our Eastern manufacturers 
could be induced to make a suitable apparatus of this sort. In spray- 
ing with this wash clothing is ruined, and only the oldest garments should 
be worn, and care should also be taken to protect the eyes to avoid 
unnecessary inflammation. There is, however, no special danger. 
Approved: 
JAMES WILSON, 
Secretary of Agriculture, 
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 18, 1904. 
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