A Home-made Soluble Oil for the San Jose Scale 



OF mII the remedies thus far proposed 

 the lime-sulphur wash is the most 

 popular for .the San Jose Scale, 

 and the most generally used. That there 

 is a general demand for something more 

 convenient is evident from the activity of 

 the various experiment station workers 

 in proposing new remedies. Hydrocyanic 

 acid gas, whale oil soap, kerosene emul- 

 sion, undiluted crude petroleum, kero - 

 water (a mechanical mixture of kerosene 

 and water), and the kerosent-limoid (K-L) 

 mixture have all been exploited in their 

 turn. They all had their weak points and 

 limitations. Very few are now in use, 

 and these only in restricted areas. 



In considering the relative merits of 

 "soluble oil" and the lime-sulphur wash 

 for the treatment of the San Jose Scale, 

 many important factors must be taken 

 int& consideration. Under ordinary con- 

 ditions, the oil spray is more efficient, is 

 as free from injurious effects upon the 

 tree, decidedly cheaper, decidedly more 

 convenient, and less destructive to spray- 

 ing equipment. In view of the absence of 

 coloring matter it is especially valuable 

 around home grounds or roadsides and in 

 parks. The various commercial prepara- 

 tions, such as Scalecide, Kill-O-Scale, 

 Sure-Kill and Target Brand Scale De- 

 stroyer, are very convenient for the man 

 with a few trees to spray. In view of a 

 "soluble oil" prepared according to the 

 formula herewith recommended, being of- 

 fered for sale by several firms at a much 

 lower figure, the cost of these prepara 

 tions may ultimately be reduced. The 

 chief advantage of the lime-sulphur wash 

 over oil sprays consists in its influence in 

 controlling the leaf curl, and its invigorat- 

 ing effect on the tree. Where leaf curl is 

 present, an occasional application, once 

 in two or three years is recommended. 



THE EMITLSIFIBR 



The value of crude petroleum as an in- 

 secticide has long been known. In its 

 undiluted condition it is injurious to vege- 

 tation, yeft under very favorable con- 

 ditions, it may be used on dormant trees 

 for the destruction of San Jose Scale. Not 

 only is the undiluted petroleum unsafe, 

 but it is decidedly too expensive. By 

 means of mechanical contrivances or 

 "emulsion pumps," attempts have been 

 made to supply oil in a diluted condition. 

 Such contrivances were a partial success, 

 but were not reliable and their use has 

 been practically discontinued. Chemical 

 reagents must therefore be depended 

 upon to bring the oil into such a condi- 

 tion that it may readily be diluted with 

 water. The combination of chemicals 

 used to bring about this condition is term- 

 ed the emulsifier; the resultant oil after 

 it has been acted upon by the emulsifier 



C. D. Jarvis, B. S.A., Storrs, Conn. 



is termed the "soluble oil," and the di- 

 luted "soluble oil' 'is called the emulsion 

 or spray mixture. The formula for mak- 

 ing the emulsifier is as follows : Carbolic 

 acid (liquid crude ioo%) two quarts; fish 

 oil (Menhaden), two and a half quarts, 

 caustic potash (granulated), one pound. 

 Heat to 300 degrees F., remove from fire 

 and immediately add : Kerosene, three 

 rmd a half quarts, water five and a half 

 quarts. 



This formula is sufficient to make 

 slightly more than three gallons of the 

 emulsifier, fifteen gallons of the complete 

 "soluble oil," or two hundred and forty 

 gallons of the emulsion ready for spray- 

 ing. 



The carbolic acid, fish oil and caustic 

 potash should be deposited in the kettle 

 before the fire is started. The mixture 

 should be slowly stirred for a few min- 

 utes after the fire is lighted, or until the 

 potash is dissolved, at which time the cov- 

 er should be placed on the kettle to pre- 

 \ent loss from steaming and evaporation. 



The cooking, is best done in an iron 



kettle. The ordinary caldron kettle com- 

 monly used on the farm for making soft 

 soap will an.swer the purpose. A large 

 kettle is not necessary for, as may bo 

 seen from the above formula, slightly 

 ()\er one g.'illon of the cooked mixture 

 (carbolic acid and fish oil) is sufficient to 

 make two hundred and forty gallons of 

 spray mixture. The kettle should be sup- 

 plied with a close fitting .cover, through 

 which has been bored a small hole to 

 accommodate a perforated stopper, by 

 which the thermometer is held in place. 

 A thermometer about eighteen inches 

 long and graduated from two hundred 

 degrees to three hundred and ten degrees 

 Fah. , will be most suitable. The graduat- 

 ed portion should be restricted to the 

 upp>er end .so as to project above the cov- 

 er. Any good thermometer graduated to 

 about three hundred and ten degrees Fah. 

 will answer the purpose. If not long 

 enough to reach the liquid in the kettle, 

 it may be lowered tjirough the hole in the 

 cover by means of a string. The kettle 

 should not be more than half filled to al- 



A'-*"'-!: 





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A Seedling Peach as Grown in • Toronto Garden 



Mr. Roderick Cameron, Toronto, sends the fo lowing history of the peach shown in our illus- 

 tration. Mrs. B. L. Brereton, Toronto, saved the pit from the finest peaoh In a basket 

 bought at the Chicago Exhibition. The fruit is different in taste and appearance to any Mj-. 

 Cameron has ever seen although he is an auth ority on the subject. In color it is between 

 a yellow and white, medium in size, ripens after the yellow St. John and is a free stone. 

 Mrs. Brereton was so well pleased with her success in growing this peach that she continued 

 planting and now has trees al! around her City lot, which all bear the finest fruit. All the 

 peach seeds have produced fruit as sood and almost identical with the parents while the trees 

 fere productive. An a rule '< is only one out of a hundred seedlings that turn out to be 

 worth growing, Mr. Cameron then asks, can it be possible that peach trees grown from 

 peach stones planted where the tree is to stand are hardier, deeper rooted and longer lived 

 than a 'roe 'ranRplqrit"d from the nursery. He thinks that this would be an interesting 

 matter for the experimental station to decide. 



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