39 



used several years in succession with very satisfactory re- 

 sults. Another wash can be prepared in practically the 

 same manner as described above, except that four to six 

 pounds of caustic soda is substituted for the sal soda. Some 

 have foimd it possible to produce, without boiling, a very 

 satisfactory lime-sulfur wash by simply using a larger per- 

 centage of good rock lime, depending upon the heat pro- 

 duced by its slaking to effect the chemical combination. The 

 lime-sulfur washes, in addition to their effect on the scale, 

 are also exceedingly valuable as fungicides, being prac- 

 tically a specific for the leaf curl and of considerable service 

 in the case of other fungous diseases. It is shown above that 

 this mixture can be prepared without excessive labor and, 

 while it possesses caustic properties, we believe that a mod- 

 erate amoiuit of care and energy will reduce these troubles 

 to a minimum. We are of the opinion that the making of 

 this preparation has been a sort of bugbear to many fruit 

 growers, whereas, as a matter of fact, it is really a very sim- 

 ple operation and there is no reason why its caustic proper- 

 ties should occasion more than a slight annoyance. 



The above mentioned factors have led to a considerable 

 demand for something more easily prepared and, as a result, 

 many experiments have been made with oils of one kind or 

 another. 



Experience in New York State has indicated almost in- 

 variably that these proprietary oil preparations must be used 

 stronger than recommended by the manuuf acturer ; namely, 

 at about the rate of one of miscible oil to ten or fifteen 

 parts of water. These substances are more costly than the 

 lime-sulfur wash, but on the other hand they are easier to ap- 

 ply and spread more readily on the twigs. This is partic- 

 ularly important on the somewhat hairy or pubescent twigs 

 of the apple, which are not easily covered by the lime-sulfur 

 wash, though it can not be claimed that these preparations 

 have any marked fungicidal properties. 



A word in this connection relative to apparatus may 

 not be out of place, as it is impossible to do good work with- 

 out satisfactory equipment. We can not throw a fine spray 

 any distance and it is therefore necessary to have a nozzle 

 extension or some means so that we can get to the lirfibs to 

 be treated. Even with the best of nozzle extensions and 

 towers or other apparatus to stand upon, it is extremely 

 laborious to spray the tops of tall trees and. on this account, 



