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the upper platform, and poured separately into the two " dilution 

 barrels," which are then filled with water up to the 50-gallon mark. 

 The 50 gallons of " milk-of-lime " thus obtained in one of the barrels 

 are stirred vigorously for a couple of minutes. A strainer is now 

 placed over the vat, in such a position as to allow the hose from the 

 taps of the " dilution barrels " to project into it. The taps of the 

 " dilution barrels " are now turned on, and — the contents of the 

 barrel containing the lime being stirred continuously — the two 50- 

 gallon barrels empty themselves through the strainer into the vat, 

 filling it with lOO gallons of Bordeaux mixture. The whole process 

 can be easily controlled by one man standing on the higher platform, 

 as with his stirring-pole he can reach the taps and so regulate the 

 flow if necessary, and also stir and clear the strainer should this be- 

 come clogged." The Bordeaux mixture is immediately ready for 

 use, and can be run off from the tap of the vat into the spraying 

 machine. Thus all the labour and waste of time in handling the 

 mixture are saved ; and, given some such " plant," as is shown in the 

 illustration, and " stock solutions," 100 gallons of Bordeaux mixture 

 can be prepared in a few minutes at any time during the spraying 

 season. It is of the greatest importance for a fruit-grower to have 

 the means of obtaining the proper " wash " directly the right period 

 of vegetation and suitable weather conditions arrive, — spraying at 

 the right time is just as important as spraying with the right " wash." 



Good straining of Bordeaux mixture is essential for success in 

 spraying, since, as pointed out below, it is absolutely necessary to 

 use a nozzle with a very fine opening. It is best to strain the mix- 

 ture twice, in the following manner : — First, a strainer with meshes 

 of medium fineness should be placed over the vat. Then a second 

 straining must be given as the Bordeaux mixture flows into the 

 spraying machine. Here the best type of strainer is one with copper 

 gauze with very fine meshes — 35 to 40 holes to the linear inch. 

 Such a strainer, made with a wooden bottom and sides of copper 

 gauze, is fitted to spraying machines. A simple and very useful 

 type of strainer (suitable for " barrel " spraying machines and for 

 general straining), as recommended by the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture,! is made as follows. It is in the form of a 

 wooden box about a foot square, the bottom of which is formed of 

 hard wood, with a hole bored through it, into which a piece of gas- 

 pipe, U- in. or 2 in. in diameter and from 6 in. to 9 in. long, is fitted. 

 The box is, of course, open at the top. Fitting just inside this box 

 is a second and lighter box, also open at a top, and having an over- 

 hanging strip nailed round the top which supports it. The bottom 

 of this inner box should be made so as to slope at an angle of about 

 30 , and should be made of fine copper gauze. The slanting bottom 



■ In the actual " plant " shown in Fig. I the top platform is higher than it need be 

 to allow of the contents of the " dilution barrels " running into the vat. This extra 

 height was fixed upon in order to allow at any time of a 50-gallon barrel being placed 

 on the lower platform, when lesser quantities of any mixture made for experimental 

 purposes can be run into it from smaller " dilution barrels " placed on the upper platform. 



t Farmers' Bulletin, No. 243. 



