140 



If it be desired to economise space the " stock solution " of 

 copper sulphate may be kept at the strength of 2 lb. of copper 

 sulphate to each gallon of water, that is to say, lOO lb. of copper 

 sulphate may be dissolved in 50 gallons of water. It is not well, 

 however, to increase the strength of the " stock solution " of lime, 

 since the slaked lime in " milk-of-lime " made at the rate of 2 lb. of 

 quicklime to one gallon of water settles so quickly that it cannot be 

 measured out accurately. 



The barrels containing the " stock solutions " must be kept 

 under cover, i.e., protected from sun and rain. If stood in a shed, 

 and covered with fairly close-fitting lids made by nailing sacking 

 round the edges of a wooden lid — such " stock solutions " keep per- 

 fectly satisfactorily throughout the spraying season. Two 50-gallon 

 barrels hold sufficient for the making of 625 gallons of Bordeaux 

 mixture ; while if the " stock solution " of copper sulphate be 

 increased in strength to 100 lb. in 50 gallons of water, and another 

 50-gallons barrel of " stock solution " of " milk-of-lime " is added* 

 these three barrels will supply enough to make 1,250 gallons of 

 Bordeaux mixture. By storing such " stock solutions," made just 

 before the summer spraying season commences, the grower has the 

 means of obtaining in a few minutes at any time a large supply of 

 Bordeaux mixture of the best quality. 



The making of Bordeaux mixture on a large scale from " stock 

 solutions " is greatly facilitated if some simple " plant " be erected. 

 The erection consists of two elevated platforms. The higher plat- 

 form is carried on four 9 ft. 6 in. posts, S in. by 4 in., sunk 2 ft. 6 in. 

 in the ground and well rammed. Joists, 5 in. by 4 in., connect the 

 heads of the posts, into which they are halved. An intermediate 

 joist is halved into the middle of two opposite joists. The upper 

 platform is 5 ft. square, and consists of 6 in. by I in. boarding in the 

 rough, laid to the edges. The lower platform, which is 6 ft. 6 in. 

 square, is similarly constructed, and is carried on sleepers, 6 ft. long 

 and 10 in. by 5 in., set vertically and sunk 2 ft. 6 in. in the ground 

 and well rammed. The two structures are bolted together at the two 

 back posts and where the front post of the higher platform touches 

 the joist of the lower platform. 



On the higher platform are two 50-gallon " dilution barrels," 

 marked inside at the 50-gallon level, and fitted with taps. If possi- 

 ble, water should be laid on to this higher platform. On the lower 

 platform stands a vat (frtted with a tap) capable of containing lOO 

 gallons. A short length of hose (" canvas hose " is convenient to 

 use) is fitted to the taps of the "dilution barrels" and of the 

 lOO-gallon vat. The process of making 100 gallons of Bordeaux 

 mixture is as follows : — Eight gallons of the " stock solution " of 

 " milk-of-lime," and the same amount of copper sulphate " stock 

 solution " (or four gallons only if this has been made of the strength 

 of 2 lb. of copper sulphate to the gallon of water) are carried up to 



