326 THE NEW GARDENING 



Many large growers in Kent and Worcestershire have 

 used a lime and salt spray with great benefit, for it has 

 sealed up and prevented the hatching of insects' eggs, 

 kept birds from the buds, destroyed scale and Apple 

 sucker, and cleansed trees of moss and lichen. 



The lime and salt wash is prepared as follows : 



For 100 gallons of water take 4 bushels of lime (220 

 to 240 Ib.) and 30 Ib. of salt. The lime should be the 

 best white lime brought straight from the kiln. It 

 should be slaked first of all with a little water, then 

 more water added and the solution strained. After that 

 the salt should be added. 



About 300 gallons may be required per acre, but the 

 total quantity must of course depend upon the size and 

 number of the trees. Well-developed half-standard 

 trees will probably take about i gallon per tree. 



The solution is put on with a powerful force-pump 

 and nozzle from mid-March to early April, or just before 

 the trees start into growth. The operators must don old 

 attire and should protect their eyes and skin, for the 

 caustic spray will coat them as well as the trees from 

 head to foot. It will cover every bud, every twig, with 

 an adhesive white scale, which will long resist the pelting 

 of rain, and its effects will probably be apparent for at 

 least three years after application. 



Those growers who wish to spray for one particular 

 enemy may often gain their end by more simple and 

 cleanly means. Thus, if it is merely a question of 

 cleansing a foul tree of moss or lichen it can be done by 

 syringing the tree while it is quite dormant in winter 

 with the following solution : 



ii Ib. caustic soda. 

 20 gallons of water. 



In preparing this, place the soda in a wooden vessel, 



