88 THE COXXECTICUT POMOLOGKAL SOCIETY. 



has been using the solution, i pound of 78 per cent, caustic 

 soda in 6 gallons of water, and claims great things for it. The 

 Journal calls attention to the matter as if it were an entirely 

 new idea. In the spring of 1901, three years ago, we used 

 caustic soda for this purpose. To be sure, only a few pear trees 

 were sprayed with it and "Babbitt's Potash or Lye" was 

 the source of the caustic. While sold as potash, this material 

 is really composed of caustic soda, which is much cheaper than 

 caustic potash and can be substituted for it in nearly all opera- 

 tions. The per cent, purity of the lye was not determined, 

 but I pound to 4 gallons was used, a stronger solution than 

 was employed in the California tests. Something like 12 per 

 cent, of insects came through the treatment alive. There was no 

 injury to the trees. The record of the test was published in Bul- 

 letin 136 of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 page 6. We did not further test the solution because we consid- 

 ered other things more promising, especially the lime, sulphur 

 and salt mixtures, and at that time we were using the oils as a 

 basis for comparing results. \'ery little injury from the use of 

 oils had then been recorded. Xext to the oils, the caustic soda is 

 probably the best thing for penetrating the layer of insects on 

 the bark and wetting the twigs. Of course the soda .solution 

 will wash from the trees with the first rain, but its action is, 

 doubtless, much more immediate and less gradual than the lime 

 and sulphur mixtures. I regard it as worth experimenting 

 with and shall use it in my own experimental work this season. 



In concluding, I will again state that for this season we must 

 rely upon the boiled lime and sulphur mixture to destroy the 

 scales in our orchards. These other materials may be tried 

 in an experimental way, but it is yet too early to put our trust 

 in uncertainties when there is so much at stake. 



I am confident that we shall soon find an efifective and inex- 

 pensive mixture that can be prepared without the trouble of 

 boiling. 



Following this very comprehensive address a vigorous dis- 

 cussion ensued. 



Discussiox. 

 ]\Ir. Hale : What sort of stirring apparatus do you use to 

 make sulphur and water into a paste? 



