1870 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



what repulsiye to some insects. One of 

 tlie most important of these repellents is 

 the well known fungicide, Bordeaux mix- 

 ture. Because of this and its use as a 

 combined insecticide and fungicide the 

 formula and directions for making are 

 here presented quite fully. 



Bordeaux Mixture 



Unslaked lime j JJ^- 



Copper sulphate (bluestone) J lbs. 



Water ^0 gals. 



The task of mixing these chemicals, 

 where large quantities of the spray is 

 used, is no small thing in itself. A great 

 deal of study has been given to the con- 

 struction of suitable mixing apparatus. 



The first consideration is to get the ma- 

 terials high enough on a platform so that 

 they can be easily and rapidly placed in 

 the spraying tanks of the power machines. 

 This is done by constructing at conven- 

 ient places in the orchard platforms large 

 enough to hold a large box for slaking 

 lime, a lime solution agitator, and a vat 

 for dissolving the bluestone. Such a plat- 

 form is about 12 feet square and 4% feet 

 high. A large standpipe for filling the 

 tanks is desirable, or the water must be 

 pumped into the tank while the solutions 

 are being added. 



The lime is first slaked in a common 

 vat for that purpose. The great trouble 

 has always been to keep the slaked lime 

 agitated properly when it was being 

 drawn off to mix with the bluestone in the 

 spraying tank. This problem has been 

 solved by the use of a special agitator for 

 this purpose. The lime from the slaking 

 vat is strained into this tank through the 

 slanting bottomed strainer. The agitator 

 works by means of a hand lever and the 

 contents of the tank may be thoroughly 

 mixed in a few minutes before it is drawn 

 off for use. Here it is again strained 

 through the strainer as well as is the 

 bluestone. 



The bluestone vat contains slats, across 

 the entire box or simply across one end. 

 These slats must be low enough so that 

 the bluestone, which is placed upon them 

 in sacks, will be completely immersed in 

 the water. This method admits quick dis- 

 solving of the bluestone, much more rapid- 



ly than if simply poured into the tank 

 and stirred. 



The lime and bluestone are mixed with 

 a given amount of water so that the prop- 

 er quantities of the resultant solutions 

 can be measured so as to give the mix- 

 ture the strength of the above formula. 



The sieve used should be made of brass 

 wire and contain 20 meshes to the inch. 



This spray is usually used as a repel- 

 lent for the flea beetles, cucumber beetles, 

 diabrotica, and other leaf-eating insects. 



POISOIV BAITS 



Poison baits occupy a very important 

 place in the control of certain insects, 

 such as grasshoppers, army and cutworms, 

 wireworms, etc., and are especially useful 

 to the small gardener though they have 

 often been used with excellent results in 

 large fields and orchards. 



Poison Bran Hash 



No 1 



Bran 25 lbs. 



Paris green % lb. 



Cheap molasses 1 qt. 



No. 2 



Bran 40 lbs. 



Arsenic 5 lbs 



Molasses 2 gals. 



In preparing these mix the arsenic or 

 Paris green and bran dry, and add the 

 molasses, which has been diluted in 

 water. Add enough more water to moist- 

 en the bran so that it will appear between 

 the fingers when the mixture is squeezed 

 in the hand. 



Some prefer to moisten the bran first 

 and afterwards stir in the molasses and 

 poison. 



Ant Poison 



Syrup containing between one-quarter 

 and one-eighth of one per cent arsenic. 

 A sponge saturated with the arsenic solu- 

 tion and placed in a small fruit jar with 

 perforated cover should be placed where 

 the ants frequent Carbon bisulphide 

 may be applied to the nests in the ground. 



Bran-Arsenic Mash 



White arsenic 1 lb. 



Brown sugar (or molasses) 1 to- 2 lbs. 



Bran 6 lbs 



Thoroughly mix the above and add 

 enough water to make thoroughly wet. A 

 spoonful should be placed near the crown 

 of each tree. The mash may be used to 

 kill grasshoppers, but it is usually best 

 to cover the trees and use the Bordeaux 

 mixture as a repellent. 



