CHAPTER XXIV 

 Winter Washes for Fruit Trees 



DURING November and December fruit trees and bushes which 

 have been infested with pests in the past season should be 

 treated with a strong wash of some kind, and even as a pre- 

 ventive against infection the action is fully justified. A good 

 strong wash at this time is often sufficient to eradicate pests 

 entirely, so that better-conditioned and more prolific trees are 

 the result. Those mentioned below are easily made, efficient, 

 and economical. In all cases the quantities given are for making 

 about 5 gallons of the wash. 



Lime-Sulphur Wash. Place 1 Ib. of quicklime in a dish 

 of some kind, add a very little water, and stir it up until the 

 bottom of the dish is covered with the paste ; now add a like 

 quantity of fine sulphur and enough water to give a liquid 

 of creamy consistency, and again stir up until the violent boil- 

 ing shows that the lime is slaking. Let this mixture stand 

 for a day, stirring it occasionally ; then add sufficient water 

 to make 5 gallons, strain through a fine sieve and spray on 

 the trees. In France, where this liquid is widely employed 

 on Vines, Roses, and fruit trees, the lime and sulphur are boiled 

 together in a pot of water for half an hour, and the material 

 diluted when cool. This preparation does not scorch the foliage, 

 and it may be used in summer ; it has a whitewashing effect 

 on the branches. 



Caustic Wash. Various kinds of caustic washes are used 

 in horticulture, but the following possesses the merit of acting 

 at one time as a fungicide and as a powerful insecticide. Stir 

 J Ib. of bluestone or sulphate of copper into J gallon of hot 

 water, then add J Ib. or so of quicklime to 4J gallons of cold 

 water ; stir up and let both liquids stand overnight in the separ- 

 ate dishes. Pour the sulphate solution into the lime water, 

 stirring all the time, then add two large cupfuls of paraffin oil 

 and stir or churn the whole together. Now dissolve 1 Ib. of 



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