Page 44 



BETTER FRUIT 



March 



iiiillipc(k'>, clc, but ^iiice there is a wide 

 range in the susceptibilili- uf various 

 plants to injury by the gas it is ni3t 

 thought best at this time to give general 

 directions for such work. As a basis for 

 any experimental tests which growers 

 may care to make the above formula is 

 advised for each 350 cubic feet of space 

 to be fumigated, and with the house 

 tightly closed for fifteen to twenty min- 

 utes. Previous arrangements should be 

 made for opening the ventilators from 

 the outside. 



Next to lime-sulphur, bordeaux mix- 

 ture is perhaps the most generally useful 

 of all spraying compounds. It is the 

 principal remedy for fungus diseases, is 

 of some value as an insecticide, has a 

 beneficial effect upon plants independent 

 of its effect upon their insect and fungus 

 parasites, and may be used for most pur- 

 poses in place of water in the prepara- 

 tion of the arsenical sprays. 



SPRAY NOZZLES 

 110, Bent connection; 1)1, Single Vermorcl 

 nozzle; 112, Cyclone nozzle; 113. Two-clus- 

 ter Vermorel; 114, Three-cluster Vermorel ; 

 115, Four-cluster Vermorel 



Bordeaux niixlure for winter use may 

 be made as follows: 



(l'>) Copper suljiliate 'i pounds 



Quick lime 'i pounds 



Water .50 gallons 



This is known as the G-G-.jO formula. 

 It should be used only upon dormant 

 trees. 



When the trees are in leaf the follow- 

 ing 4-4-50 formula is used: 



(16) Copper sulphate 4 pounds 



Quick lime 4 pounds 



Water 50 gallons 



For spraying peach foliage it is best 

 to use the still weaker 3-3-50 formula: 



(17) Copper sulphate 3 pounds 



Quick lime 3 pounds 



Water 50 gallons 



To prepare bordeaux mixture dissolve 

 the copper sulphate in hot or cold water 

 in a wooden or earthen vessel. Slake 

 the lime, using only sufficient water to 

 insure slaking. The lime should not be 

 allowed to become dry while slaking, nor 

 should it be submerged in water. After 

 the lime is slaked add water and stir 

 until the "milk of lime" is of the con- 

 sistency of cream. The best results are 

 obtained by diluting the milk of lime and 

 the copper sulphate solution each to 25 

 gallons, and then pouring these two 

 dilute solutions together. The lime solu- 

 tion should always be strained through 

 a sieve to exclude particles that might 

 clog the nozzles. A brass wire sieve, 

 twenty-mesh, large enough to fit the 

 head of a barrel or the opening in the 

 spray tank will prove a very great con- 

 venience. 



When large quantities of bordeaux are 

 required it is most convenient to make 

 stock solutions of lime and of copper 

 sulphate of known strength. A con- 

 venient stock solution of copper sulphate 

 is made by dissolving 100 pounds in 50 

 gallons of water; one of lime, by slaking 

 100 pounds and diluting with water to 

 50 gallons. Each gallon of the stock 

 solutions will then contain two pounds 

 of lime or of copper sulphate, and the 

 amount to be used in preparing any 

 quantity of bordeaux according to the 

 above formulas can be readily computed. 



There are three simple bordeaux tests 

 which may be used. First, hold a clean, 

 bright knife blade in the bordeaux for 

 at least one minute. If it becomes 

 copper-plated more lime should be used. 

 Second, pour some of the bordeaux into 

 a shallow dish, and, holding it up to the 

 light, blow gently across its surface. If 

 properly made a thin pellicle will form 

 on the surface of the liquid. If this does 

 not form more lime should be added. 

 Third, dissolve one ounce of ferrocy- 

 anide of potassium in five or six ounces 

 of water. Pour some of the bordeaux 

 into a white dish and add to it a few 

 drops of the ferrocyanide solution. If 

 sufficient lime has been used no change 

 will be noticed. If a brownish-red dis- 

 coloration takes place more lime should 

 be added. 



A simple solution of copper sulphate 

 is used as a remedy for grain smuts, and 

 sometimes as a spray in place of bor- 

 deaux. For dormant trees use: 



(18a) Copper sulphate 1 pound 



Water 25 gallons 



For trees in foliage use: 



(ISb) Copper sulphate 1 pound 



Water 250 gallons ' 



RESULT OF STRAWBERRY LEAF ROLLER 

 Strawberry leaves showing appearance after being 

 folded. (After Weed.) 

 Colorado Experiment Station 



For smut of wheat or oats soak the 

 seed for ten to twelve hours in a solu- 

 tion of one pound of blue vitriol to 25 

 gallons of water, then put the seed for 

 five or ten minutes into lime water, made 

 by slaking one pound of lime and dilut- 

 ing it with 10 gallons of water. 



The treatment with lime water tends 

 to prevent the copper sulphate solution 

 from injuring the seed, but most farmers 

 omit that part of the treatment. 



Bordeaux mixture has the disadvan- 

 tage that it produces an unsightly deposit 

 upon foliage, blossoms and fruit, and 

 hence cannot well be used upon florists' 

 plants or upon fruits nearly ready for 

 market. For use under such conditions 

 the animoniacal copper carbonate, the 

 simple copper carbonate mixture or the 

 copper acetate solution is recommended. 



(19) Copper carbonate 5 ounces 



Strong ammonia 3 pints 



Water 50 gallons 



Mix the copper carbonate into a paste 

 with a little water, add the ammonia, 

 and when the copper carbonate is com- 

 pletely dissolved pour the resulting deep 

 blue liquid into the water. 



(20) Copper carbonate 1 pound 



Water 50 gallons 



Mix the copper carbonate into a paste 

 with a little water before attempting to 

 add it to the 50 gallons. 



(21) Dibasic acetate of copper 6 ounces 



Water 50 gallons 



Use finely powdered acetate of copper, 

 mix it into a paste with a little water, 

 then dilute with the full amount of water. 



(22) Potassium sulphide 1 ounce 



Water 2 to 3 gallons 



Dissolve the potassium sulphide in the 

 water. 



Valuable as a spray for mildews. 



(23) Corrosive sublimate 1 ounce 



Water 7 to 8 gallons 



This is valuable as a preventive of 

 potato scab. In a wooden vessel dis- 

 solve the poison in one gallon of water, 

 then dilute to the full amount. Place the 

 scabby seed potatoes in a sack, immerse 

 them in the solution and allow them to 

 soak one to two hours. The solution 



