92 HOME FRUIT GROWER 



allow the diluted liquids to pour into the spray tank, or barrel, so that 

 each stream will strike the other as it falls. This makes the finest 

 kind of mixture. 



5. To make sure that the completed solution contains no "free" 

 copper sulphate place a spoonful on a plate and let a drop of ferro- 

 cyanide of potassium (yellow prussiate of potash), dissolved in water, 

 fall into the sample. If a reddish-brown color appears add more lime 

 solution, stir up thoroughly and test again. If none is noticed the 

 mixture is safe to use. 



One Bordeaux formula is four pounds of copper sulphate, four 

 pounds of lime to 50 gallons of water. That is four gallons each of 

 the above stock solutions with 21 gallons of water in each of two barrels. 

 These poured together would make 50 gallons. As this formula is 

 too strong for Peaches, Plums and Cherries, the following is used: 

 three pounds sulphate, three of lime to 50 gallons of water. 



Self-boiled lime-sulphur wash is made by placing eight pounds of 

 quick-lime in a barrel with eight pounds of sulphur on top, then adding 

 boiling water, little by little, stirring constantly until the lime is slaked 

 and becomes about like cream, and then allowing the mixture to cook 

 by its own heat for fifteen minutes, the barrel being kept covered with 

 burlap to hold in the heat. When "done" add enough water to make 

 50 gallons. This mixture is specially useful against brown rot of stone 

 fruits. It is useless for fungi during Winter, on San Jose scale at any 

 time, but it is safer than commercial lime-sulphur against fungi dur- 

 ing the growing season. 



These cross sections of a Y-crotch show decay works its way 



downward and weakens the union until a break follows. The 



dark spots show the progress of decay 



