24 



Sheets made of the same cloth, oiled, and with the sewing- 

 charged at 8d. per dozen yards of stitching, will cost as follows : 



s. d. 



32 feet Across (14 breadths) ... ... 5 



38 feet across (17 breadths) ... ... 8 



48 feet across (21 breadths) ... ... 15 



Sheets of these dimensions will cover trees under 13, 16 and 19 

 feet in height respectively. If a sheet of larger dimensions is 

 required the addition of a skirt as previously spoken of is 

 recommended. This might be of cheap drill or of unbleached 

 calico, as it will not have to withstand a strain like the body of the 

 sheet. A skirt three feet in width would render the largest sheet 

 mentioned serviceable for trees up to 21 or 22 feet in height. When 

 it is desired to treat trees taller than this, the cutting away of the 

 tops should be considered; larger sheets would prove difficult to 

 manipulate unless made of lighter cloth. 



Chemicals- The cyanide used has all been of 98 per cent, 

 purity. That employed during the first six weeks was purchased of 

 Cape Town chemists, the price paid being 5s. a pound plus jars. 

 That on order from Grermany then arrived. This cost Is. 2d. per 

 pound at Frankfort in a 2 cwt. zinc-lined case. The carriage to 

 Cape Town amounted to 10s. A second 2 cwt has since been imported 

 at the same expense; but now three 2 cwt. cases (672 Ibs.) have 

 been purchased in London from Messrs. May & Baker, Battersea, 

 at lOd. per pound. The total charges on this lot to Cape Town 

 amounted to less than 29. If imported by private parties there 

 would have been a duty of 12 per cent, and dock dues to add. 



The acid used has all been ordinary, commercial sulphuric acid 

 or oil of vitrol of 94 per cent, purity; the specific gravity is 1.84. It 

 has been purchased of Cape Town chemists, 50s. being paid for cases 

 containing four stone jars each holding 4 2 pounds of acid; lately, one 

 firm (Wentzel & Schleswig) has supplied it in cases containing 2 

 stone jars holding 62 pounds for 26s. a case. Single jars of both 

 sizes have been purchased for 14s. 



Expense Compared to Spraying. Disregarding the initial 

 equipment and labour required in both cases, fumigation is cheaper 

 than one thorough application of resin wash. At the lowest figures 

 known to us for which the ingredients may be purchased in Cape 

 Town, resin wash (exclusive of the making) costs 7s. for 100 imperial 

 gallons. At least four gallons are required to thoroughly wet an 

 orange tree 10 feet in height and 8 feet in diameter; the four gallons 

 would cost at least 3^d. Estimating the cyanide to cost Is. 4d. per 

 pound and the acid 3d. per pound, the fumigation of a tree of the 

 same size would cost less than 2Jd. As far as the efficacy of the 

 two is concerned, the fumigation is incomparably the superior. 



The labour required for fumigating citrus trees is less under 

 favourable circumstances than Jie labour necessary to spray the same 

 trees. 



