Circular No. 53 (Revision of No. 39). April, 191 5. 



MASSACHUSEHS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



AMHERST. 



LIME AND SULFUR SOLUTIONS. 

 By G. E. Stone. 



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

 different purposes, altliough 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 Jos^ scale has incidentally demonstrated its great value as 

 a fungicide. Our observations and experiments with the use of lime and 

 sulfur when applied to trees in a dormant condition have convinced us that 

 no preparation which has ever been used can be compared with it for effic- 

 iency in controlling different fungi. For many years lime and sulfur has 

 been largely used as a spray for fruit trees in a dormant condition, but of 

 late it has also been used in various modified forms as a summer spray with 

 very encouraging results. Many trials have been made of the diluted con- 

 centrated preparations, and also of what is known as the "self-boiled lime 

 and sulfur," but the methods are in a more or less experimental stage.* 



Lime and sulfur used as a spray on trees in a dormant condition is a pos- 

 itive preventive of peach leaf curl and Monilia and Cladosporium infec- 

 tion on peach twigs. Its use holds in check the leaf spots of the apple, 

 pear, plum, quince 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 effective is this treatment for leaf spots that in many cases after only one 

 spraying not a single spot could be found on the foHage of fruit trees during 

 any part of the season. 



Self-Boiled Lime and Sulfur Mixture. 



For some purposes, especially summer spraying, self-boiled lime and sul- 

 ful mixtures are useful. One of the best rules is the following : 



W. M. Scott's Formula. 



Flowers of sulfur or sulfur fiour, S pounds. 



Fresh stone lime, 8 pounds. 



Water, 50 gallons. 



* The diluted lime and sulfur has not proved equal to Bordeaux for spraying potatoes. 

 —Geneva Agri. Exp. Station (N. Y.), bul. 347, F. C. Stewart and G. T. French. 



