fOURTEENTH ANNU.-IL MEETIXG. 149 



pieces and a small portion is put into a wooden box ; upon 

 this lime is sprinkled a little water, and when slaking is nicely 

 started the balance of the lime is poured in and some kind of 

 a cover is thrown over the box to keep in the heat and steam, 

 which cause the entire amount of lime to slake into a dry im- 

 palpable powder. This should be carefully sifted through at 

 least a 40-mesh sieve and it is ready for use. 



The question has often been asked, "What is the office of 

 the lime in K-L" ? The limoid, or hydrated lime, is primarily 

 a carrier for the kerosene. There is some peculiar affinity 

 between the two by which the limoid seizes the kerosene and 

 carries it where the man behind the nozzle directs. It also 

 makes possible a mixture of absolutely uniform strength. 

 There is doubtless a smothering effect on the scale by the li- 

 moid, since K-L sprayed on a tree makes a covering resem- 

 bling thin whitewash. 



There is no chemical action between the kerosene and 

 lime. The Station Chemist has tested kerosene in which li- 

 moid remained about two months and there was not a trace 

 of anything taken from the limoid. 



The kerosene is of course the killing agent. In summer 

 it seems to do its deadly work and to evaporate within a few 

 days. In fall and winter it persists two or three weeks at 

 least and seems to extend its killing period to six or eight 

 weeks, or even longer. This last statement is borne out by 

 frequent examinations in whicli it was noted that a large per- 

 centage of scales was dead at each successive examination up 

 to eight weeks or longer after spraying. 



How THE Mixture is Made. 

 To make K-L, the kerosene and lime in proper propor- 

 tions are thoroughly mixed together into a thin "sloppy" 

 mass, and should any kerosene separate out a little more lime 

 must be added. One pound of lime will take up, or absorb, 

 one quart of kerosene and in this proportion the mixture 

 should always be made, that is, four pounds of lime to one 

 gallon of kerosene. The different forms of lime used seem 

 to be about uniform in their ability to absorb kerosene. The 

 required amount of water is then added to dilute to the de- 

 sired strength, and the whole mixture is first stirred with a 



