30 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I9I2. 



water up to the original' volume. If this is attended to fre- 

 quently the water can be added without stopping the boiling of 

 the liquid to any extent. 



At the end of the hour the solution should be allowed to set- 

 tle and should then be dipped out and strained through a fine 

 sieve into a barrel or other container. Its density should not 

 be determined while hot. 



The surface of the liquid should be protected from the air 

 by a layer of heavy mineral oil. By putting a spigot in the 

 lower end of one of the staves the liquid can be drawn off from 

 time to time, its surface will remain protected and no oil will 

 go into the diluted spray. Stock solutions made and protected 

 in this way can be put up in considerable amount in the months 

 preceding the spraying season. 



The most convenient vessel in which to make the concentrate 

 is some form of iron stock feed cooker. Such vessels are made 

 in various capacities. The size of cooker to be used should 

 have a volume somewhat greater than the amount of concentrate 

 to be made at one boiling; that is, a 50 gallon vessel will prob- 

 ably not hold 50 gallons of spray mixture, owing to the lime 

 and sulphur present in addition to the volume of water. A 

 cooker of about 35 or 60 gallons capacity should be large 

 enough to make a stock of 25 or 50 gallons respectively. 



This process is simple and requires but little experience. 

 After one or two batches have been made, it will be found that 

 if directions have been followed, the density of the several 

 batches will not vary beyond a degree Beaume, and frequently 

 less. There should be the very slightest amount of sediment 

 in the cooker after the liquid has been removed. 



For very extensive spray operations in large orchards the 

 concentrate can be made in larger amounts than 50^ gallons at a 

 time. This is not recommended, however, for the average 

 A^laine fruit grower. 



Directions for making the self-boiled lime-sulphur mixture 

 are not given. This preparation has in practically all cases 

 been found to have much less fungicidal value and to be far 

 less adhesive than the boiled solution. Directions for making 

 it may be found on pp. 385-386 of Bulletin 185 of this Station. 



