838 CONNECTICUT EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT, I907-I908. 



ingredients, chiefly from the chemical standpoint. A large number 

 of formulas are given, thus showing the possibilities of the 

 subject, though one is recommended as being the best for the 

 average orchardist to use. The bulletin by Mr. Jarvis gives brief 

 directions to the orchardist about procuring materials and pre- 

 paring the mixtures after a single formula, virhich is quite similar 

 to the one recommended by Professor Penny, containing the same 

 ingredients in only very slightly different proportions, except that 

 the former contains crude oil where the latter has parafiine oil. 



As many inquiries were made at this station regarding these 

 mixtures, it was deemed best to make a practical trial of pre- 

 paring and using them so that we might more intelligently answer 

 the inquiries. Therefore, a kettle or feed cooker was purchased, 

 and the materials were procured in barrel lots, consisting of 

 carbolic acid, menhaden or fish oil, rosin oil, crude petroleum, 

 parafiine oil, kerosene, and a small quantity of caustic potash. 

 The first cost of these materials was nearly one hundred dollars, 

 and of course some of them will last for a long time. The outfit 

 is shown on Plate LVIIIb. We had no particular trouble in 

 making up the first lot according to directions, and care had been 

 taken to purchase only the grade of materials recommended. But 

 on using up the first barrel of parafiine oil, we ordered a second 

 barrel of exactly the same oil, and it failed to emulsify as the 

 other had done when used in the same quantities with the other 

 ingredients. It was then necessary to try varying proportions 

 of some of them, and Mr. Walden worked on it two whole days 

 before we could use it in making a spraying mixture. A different 

 grade of oil had been sold us for the same oil, and it required 

 considerable experience to learn how to use it. Oil experts have 

 informed us that the common trade names of oils are meaning- 

 less so far as their exact chemical composition is concerned, and 

 that there is little assurance of being able to obtain the same 

 thing twice unless it comes from the same well and is drawn at 

 about the same time. It seems to us that the first cost of the 

 materials, together with the uncertainty of obtaining uniform oils, 

 make it impracticable for any except the larger orchardists to 

 prepare their own soluble oils. 



Orchard tests were also made. All fruit trees on the station 

 grounds were sprayed January 23d. The mixture worked nicely, 

 except that a thickened oily residue formed in the pump barrel and 



