634 NEW JERSEY STATE AGRICULTURAL 



There are several mcxliticatiuns of the furniula alxj\'e given, 

 which do not. in effect, chanp^e the real character of t) e mixture. 

 The salt may be materially reduced, or oiiiitted alt':>gether. It 

 is chiefly used to add t(v the sticking" (|uality of the wash, but it 

 is not certain that the comljination of lime and sulphur is not 

 favorably influenced by it. The lime may be considerably in- 

 creased, and some fiirmulas call for twice as much lime as sul- 

 phur, while lesseninp- the salt by one-half. This o-ive-^ an excess 

 of lime that adds nothing tO' the value of the mixture, and may 

 even be harmful by causing it to scale off more readily. 



The point to- be gained is a union of the lime and sulphur to 

 make a double sulphide of lime, and this is accomplished by the 

 boiling. Equal parts of each gives more lime than enough, but 

 the excess is not in the way. 



In Georp'ia, Mr. Hale sprayed his immense peach orchards 

 with the boiled lime and sulphur combination, using no salt at 

 all, and the results were excellent when I saw the trees late in 

 July. Yet. as I understand, Mr. Hale will add salt in his next 

 applicatioiis. It is not really necessary to add as much as the 

 formula calls for, and probably fifteen pounds woull answer as 

 well as fifty. My opinion as tO' the amount of lime to be used 

 is confirmed, and the thinner the wash, the better it will cover 

 the entire surface. As to the time of lx)iling, practice also 

 differs, and when steam is used a shorter time may suffice than 

 in the open-pot method. The point to be eained is the complete 

 comlyination of all the materials, and that is indicated by the 

 color and transparency of the material. It requires a little ex- 

 perience tO' recognize the proper condition ; but once i ecognized, 

 the time of boiling will be whatever is required to obtain it. 



Caustic soda, lime and sulphur is separately referred to; yet it 

 may be in place here to express confidence that this also will 

 redeem itself, though it may not be so good as the preceding. 



The combinations eft'ected by the heat of the slaking lime alone 

 have not proved themselves of sufficient \-alue in m}' experience 

 to. enab'le me tO' recommend them; but in case they are to \ye em- 

 ployed, boiling water should be used to mix the sulphur into a 

 paste and to slake the lime with: it. Heat is the great essential 

 in effecting the combination and none can be wasted in heating 

 the water used on the lime if a decent result is to be c btained. 



LIME, SULPHUR AND CAUSTIC SODA. 



The formula i>ubli.she(l in Bulletin No. 169 is as follows: 



