ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 95 



lected in the cavity about the crown caused by the swaying of the trees in the wind. 

 The accumulation of oil in this way may be prevented by giving the tank a conical bot- 

 tom, so that the liquid may be thoroughly exhausted each time before refilling, and as 

 a further precaution, before treating, the trees may be mounded up about the base 

 and the earth thoroughly compacted. With these precautions no injury has resulted 

 from the later sprayings. The treatment kills the young of the black scale and the 

 fungus breaks up and soon peels off. 



Lime, Salt, and Sulphur Wash. 



As the members of the Association are aware, this is the almost invariable remedy 

 for the San Jose' scale on the Pacific slope, and as a rule it is undoubtedly effective. 

 Our experience with this wash in the East had thrown doubt on its real efficiency as an 

 insecticide, and it has been clearly demonstrated that under the climatic conditions east 

 of the Alleghanies it is almost valueless. In California, howtver, after a careful study 

 of the facts in the field, I am compelled to admit that the demonstration of its useful- 

 ness against the San Jose* scale is complete and the benefit of its application to orchards 

 is most manifest. In the vicinity of Pomona, Cal., unsprayed orchards were badly 

 infested with San Jose scale, while in adjoining sprayed orchards the scale was entirely 

 killed and the trees were rapidly recovering and showing vigorous and healthy new 

 growth. In contiguous orchards, also, of the same kinds of trees, similarly treated so 

 far as cultivation is concerned, the trees which had been subjected to yearly spraying 

 were at least one-third larger than untreated trees. This wash is of value also as a fungi- 

 cide, protecting stone fruits from leaf fungi, and is also a protection against birds, the 

 common California linnet doing great damage to buds in January and February. The 

 wash is almost invariably made and applied by contractors, and costs about 5 cents per 

 gallon applied to the trees. It is a winter application, being applied in January and 

 February. 



Along the coast region and in northern California, wheie moister conditions prevail, 

 this wash is very much less successful, bearing out somewhat the experience of the East, 

 and doubtless explained by the similarity of climate in the districts mentioned with that 

 of the Atlantic seaboard In making this wash the chief consideration seems to be pro- 

 longed boiling. The wash itself is practically a sulphide of lime, with much free lime and 

 salt carried with it. Prolonged boiling will result in taking up temporarily additional 

 sulphur, and will perhaps add to its caustic properties if it is applied very hot ; on cool- 

 ing, however, it reverts to the simpler tri- or bi-sulphide of lime. The proportions of the 

 ingredients and the method of combining them vary slightly in different sections. The 

 following is the ordinary formula : Unslaked lime, 40 pounds ; sulphur, 20 pounds; salt, 

 15 pounds; one-fourth of the lime is first slaked and boiled with the sulphur in 20 gal- 

 lons of water for two or three hours ; the remainder of the lime is slaked and together 

 with the salt is added to the hot mixture and the whole boiled for half an hour or an 

 hour longer. Water is then added to make 60 gallons of wash. This wash is applied 

 practically every year, or as often as the San Jcse scale manifests itself in any numbers. 

 In the coast region and in the northern part of the State it is necessary to apply it with 

 greater frequency than in the interior districts. 



Arsenicals and Lime. 



The advantage of the employment of lime with Paris green or London purple having 

 been called in question at the previous meeting of this association, the matter was again 

 made the sublet of experimental test, and the old belief of the denided protective value 

 to the foliage of the addition of lime was fully and strikingly demonstrated. 



At the final adjournment of the session it was voted to hold the next meeting at 

 Boston, Mass., Aug. 19th and 20th. 



