Circular No. 31. April, 1911. 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



AMHERST. 



Lime and Sulphur Solutions* 



By G. E. Stone, 



Lime and sulphur has been used for many years in various forms 

 and for different purposes, although it is only comparatively recently 

 that its value as a fungicide has been realized. The extensive use 

 of this solution as a spray for the San Jose scale has incidentally 

 demonstrated its great value as a fungicide. Our observations and 

 experiments with the use of lime and sulphur when applied to trees 

 in a dormant condition have convinced us that as a fungicide no 

 preparation which has ever been used can be compared with it for 

 efficiency in controlling dififerent fungi. Up to the present time 

 lime and sulphur has been largely used as a spray for fruit trees in 

 a dormant condition, but in late years it has also been used in vari- 

 ous modified forms as a summer spray with very encouraging results. 

 Many trials have been made of the diluted concentrated prepara- 

 tions, and also of what is known as the " self-boiled lime and sulphur," 

 but these methods are in a more or less experimental stage. 



Lime and sulphur used as a spray on trees in a dormant condition 

 is a positive preventive of peach leaf curl, Monilia and Cladosporium 

 infection on trees. Its use holds in check the leaf spots of the apple, 

 pear and plum, and will probably do the same for quinces and other 

 fruit trees and shrubs. We also believe that it has a material effect 

 on cankers, black knot and other common twig diseases. So effec- 

 tive is this treatment for leaf spots that many cases have been ob- 

 served where only one spraying has been made and not a single spot 

 could be found on the foliage of fruit trees in any part of the year. 

 The diseases of fruit trees, however, are not as common in Massa- 

 chusetts, or nearly so destructive, as elsewhere, and for this reason 



