48 



1 per cent of live scale remaining on trees treated with a solution 

 containing 2 pounds to each gallon of water. One and one-half pounds 

 to the gallon, though killing much the larger portion of the insects, 

 was notably less effective. Rain within twenty-four hours after treat- 

 ment seriously interfered with the results, particularly when a potash 

 soap was used. In one case 1^ pounds to the gallon was more effective 

 than 2 pounds to the gallon applied the following da} T , both applica- 

 tions having been drenched with rain on the third day. 



One hundred or more trees were used in each test, and the general 

 effect (aside from that upon the scale) appeared to be more beneficial 

 than otherwise. Some damage to fruit buds, not, however, of a 

 serious nature, resulted from the early December applications. The 

 spring work gave no ill effect. 



CAUSTIC WASHES. 



Lime, sulphur, and salt. — Three strengths of this wash were used, 

 the standard formula (30 pounds of lime, 20 of sulphur, and 15 of salt) 

 being diluted to -40, 50, and 60 gallons. It was applied at four dif- 

 ferent dates, February 28, March 3, 6, and 7. 



February 28 was a fair day, with a slight breeze from the southwest 

 during the forenoon, freshening into a brisk wind in the afternoon, 

 rendering thorough work difficult. On March 1, 1.33 inches of rain 

 fell, but the temperature (maximum, 58° F. ; minimum, 33°) was cold 

 for the season. On March 5, 0.23 inch of rain fell, followed by two 

 fair days and a slight rain (<>.<>2 inch) on the 8th. No more rain fell 

 until March 14, when it commenced and rained through the 16th, 

 during which time the precipitation amounted to 4.75 inches. 



The more thorough observations were made during the first week 

 in May, when it was found that the best results were obtained from 

 the applications on March 3 and 6, which killed about 90 per cent of 

 the scale. On the other plots as much as 20 per cent of the scale could 

 be found alive. However, a more hasty examination, made June 4, 

 showed that the insects were still dying and that before the wash 

 should be exhausted the fatality would be much greater than the 

 earlier observations indicated. The scaly covering of such insects as 

 appeared to be alive were in many cases so corroded by the wash as to 

 afford little protection to the insects. Contrary to expectation, the 

 strongest solution gave no better results than those of greater dilution. 



It might be said that the results upon the whole were somewhat 

 gratifying and that further tests may prove the lime, sulphur, and salt 

 wash to be a valuable scale remedy for Georgia. In the light of later 

 knowledge it is quite certain that our method of preparation could 

 be improved upon, as it now appears that some of our poor results were 

 probabty due in part to insufficient boiling. 



