292 THE CANADIAN 



Our recent experiments comprise trials 

 on apples, cherries and plums with the fol- 

 lowing mixtures : 



"A" — Soda-Bordeaux (Burgundy mix- 

 ture: 



Copper sulphate (bluestone) 4 lbs. 



Washing soda 5 lbs. 



Water 40 gals. 



The bluestone and washing soda were dis- 

 solved separately in half the total volume of 

 water and the resultant solutions mixed. 

 This mixture, it will be observed, contains 

 no paris green or arsenic in any form. 



'' B " — Soda-Bordeau.x, as above, to 

 which was added 4 ounces of paris green. 



" C " — Soda-Bordeaux, as above, to 

 which was added a solution made by boil- 

 ing together 8 ounces of white arsenic and 

 2 pounds of washing soda with i gallon of 

 water. 



RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. 



" A " — No apparent injury to the foliage 

 of apples, plums and cherries. 



" B " — Apples : A few leaves slightly 

 scorched at the edges. The probabilities 

 are it will be found that the varieties dififer 

 somewhat in their ability to resist the cor- 

 rosive action of this spray, but the results 

 obtained so far indicate that its use would 



HGRTICULTURISI 



be attended with a considerable degree of 

 danger in the apple orchard. 



Plums : Scorching of the leaves quite 

 evident, though injury not very serious. 



Cherries : Results rather similar to those 

 obtained on apple foliage. It is extremely 

 doubtful if this spray could be used for this 

 crop with safetv. 



" C " — Apples, Plums and Cherries : In 

 every instance in which this spray was used 

 excessive injury resulted. The foliage was 

 ba(ll\- scorched, subsequently becoming crisp 

 and falling. The damage was such as to 

 sliow conclusively that this spray is quite 

 unsuitable and dangerous in the highest de- 

 gree for all classes of fruit trees. 



In a word, Burgundy mixture, pure and 

 simple, has shown itself, as far as our ex- 

 periments have gone, to be non-injurious to 

 foliage. When, however, paris green is 

 added the spray becomes more or less cor- 

 rosive to foliage and its use is attended with 

 danger. The addition of soluble arsenical 

 compounds, as in " C," renders the spray 

 extremely injurious to foliage, entirely pro- 

 hibiting its use." 



When it is desired to use paris green as 

 an insecticide in the spray, Bordeaux mix- 

 ture made with lime only should be used. 



BURGUNDY MIXTURE HARMFUL 



7 HE Burgundy mixture, used in many 

 orchards during the past season, has 

 given poor results in several cases. Grow- 

 ers in the Winona and Grimsby districts 

 have destroyed a great percentage of their 

 trees as a result of its use. 



" The total damage to my trees amounts 

 to about $1,000," said Mr. E. D. Smith, to 

 The Horticulturist a few days ago. "Near- 

 ly 2.000 plum trees and 500 cherry trees 

 have been injured. Some trees were so 

 badly scorched that I do not think they can 

 recover. Smaller trees received a heavier 

 spray than larger ones, so that the younger 

 stock was daniacred the most. 



" We used the proportions recommended 

 by the leading authorities, but did not test 

 every time with litmus. With the ordinary 

 Bordeaux mixture an excess of copper sul- 

 phate is all that has to be guarded against. 

 An excess of lime makes no difference. In 

 the Burgundy mixture, however, the pro- 

 portions inust be just right. An excess of 

 sal soda seems to be just as injurious as an 

 excess of copper sulphate. It is easy to 

 prepare, but just as easy to make a mistake 

 in the preparation of it. The nozzles never 

 clog, and the mixture being colorless does 

 not discolor the fruit, but I do not think I 

 shall ever use it again." 



