38 



Following- this paper the secretary read a communication from Mr. 

 W. E. Britton, as follows: 



THE LIME, SULPHUR, AND SALT MIXTURE IN CONNECTICUT. 



By W. E. Brittox, New Haven, Conn. 



In the spraying experiments conducted by the station during the 

 spring of 1902 the lime, sulphur, and salt mixture was given a trial 

 in three different localities in Connecticut. April 1 a pear tree near 

 New Haven was sprayed with a mixture containing 50 pounds of lime, 

 50 pounds of sulphur, and 50 pounds of salt to 150 gallons of water. 

 Another pear tree was sprayed on April 15 with a mixture made in 

 the same way. On May 23 a careful examination of these trees showed 

 that less than 1 per cent of the scales were alive. The same formula 

 was used on one peach tree and one cherry tree at Bridgeport April 

 16. No living insects could be found on these trees when examined 

 on June 23. The trees were very late about putting out their leaves, 

 and on April 18 six Japanese plum trees and one peach tree at Terry - 

 ville were sprayed witli a mixture made of 30 pounds of lime, 20 pounds 

 of sulphur, 15 pounds of salt, and 60 gallons of water. On June 24 the 

 trees were examined and the percentages of living insects were found 

 to vary from to 7, the average of the seven trees being 3.36 percent. 

 In each case this insecticide was used in comparison with 25 per cent 

 crude oil mixed with water and several other mixtures. It proved to 

 be as effective in destroying the scale insect as any of the other prepa- 

 rations employed, and in no case did it injure the trees, while some 

 harm followed the application of crude oil, both undiluted and in the 

 25 per cent mixture, in several cases. The largest percentage of living- 

 insects on the sprayed trees occurred on branches which were veiy 

 badly infested, being covered several layers in depth with the bodies 

 of the insects. The insecticide in some cases had not penetrated the 

 mass sufficient^ to kill those at the bottom. 



The lime, sulphur, and salt mixture has also been used in several 

 large Connecticut orchards the past season, and has given satisfactory 

 results. It will be employed much more extensively the coming 

 season. 



At the conclusion of this paper the subject was opened for discussion. 



Mr. Alwood remarked that for some years he had been somewhat 

 of an advocate of both refined and crude oil. In Virginia they had 

 sprayed thousands of trees with these forms of petroleum, and in the 

 main good results had followed. In some cases the results had been 

 remarkably good. He desired to call attention to a case where the 

 use of oils had been very beneficial. This particular case was a young 



