6 



lumps. The mixture should be constantly stirred and more water 

 added as needed to form a thick paste at first and then gradually a 

 thin paste. The lime will supply enough heat to boil the mixture 

 several minutes. As soon as it is well slaked water should be added 

 to cool the mixture and prevent further cooking. It is then ready to 

 be strained into the spray tank, diluted, and applied. 



The stage at which cold water should be poured on to stop the cook- 

 ing varies with different limes. Some limes are so sluggish in slaking 

 that it is difficult to obtain enough heat from them to cook the mix- 

 ture at all, while other limes become intensely hot on slaking and care 

 must be taken not to allow the boiling to proceed too far. If the 

 mixture is allowed to remain hot fifteen or twenty minutes after the 

 slaking is completed, the sulphur gradually goes into solution, com- 

 bining with the lime to form sulphids, which are injurious to peach 

 foliage. It is therefore very important, especially with hot lime, to 

 cool the mixture quickly by adding a few buckets of water as soon as 

 the lumps of lime have slaked down. The intense heat, violent boiling, 

 and constant stirring result in a uniform mixture of finely divided 

 sulphur and lime, with only a very small percentage of the sulphur in 

 solution. It should be strained to take out the coarse particles of 

 lime, but the sulphur should be carefully worked through the strainer. 



Arsenate of lead. — Arsenate of lead comes on the market in a thick, 

 putty-like paste, and must be worked free in water before addition to 

 the lime-sulphur mixture. There are several brands upon the market 

 and the grower should be careful to purchase from reliable firms. 

 The addition of arsenate of lead to the self-boiled lime-sulphur mixture 

 will bring about a decided change in color, but without injuriously 

 affecting the value of the spray. Arsenate of lead is used at the rate 

 of 2 pounds to each 50 gallons of water or lime-sulphur mixture. 



The amount of poison required for each spray tank of mixture ma} 7 

 be weighed out into a bucket, thinned with water, and poured through 

 a strainer into the spray tank. In extensive operations, however, it 

 is much more convenient to prepare a stock mixture in advance. 

 Place 100 pounds of the material in a barrel with a bucket of water 

 and work it into a thin paste with a spade or a large paddle, then 

 dilute with water to make exactly 25 gallons. When thoroughly 

 stirred, each gallon will contain 4 pounds of arsenate of lead, and the 

 amount of poison for each spray tank of mixture may be measured, 

 thus avoiding the trouble of weighing small lots. 



SCHEDULE OF APPLICATIONS. 



For the Elberta, Bell, Reeves, and other varieties of peaches of 

 about the same ripening season, the following is advised: 



First application. — About the time the calyces, or shucks, are shed- 

 ding from the young fruit, spray with arsenate of lead at the rate of 



[Cir. 120] 



