141 



to escape the spray, being in the mature larval or pupal stage ancf 

 fixed immovably to the lower surface of the leaf. Furthermore, to be' 

 thoroughly effective, the resin wash must remain on the trees at least 

 one or two days, and as this is usually a dry season it is not likely to 

 be washed off soon. If thoroughly done three or four sprayings du- 

 ring the period mentioned, at intervals of one to two weeks, will be 

 found an efficient treatment. It is probably best to delay the spray- 

 ings until the fruit has been removed. Should it be found necessary, 

 treatments may also be made during May and the first half of June 

 and again during the latter part of August and first of September. 



In spraying it is important to wet thoroughly the under surface of 

 every leaf. In treating this disease it has been found a good practice 

 to trim the trees within, about the trunk and main limbs, thus leaving 

 the greater part of the foliage near the outer parts of the tree. This 

 greatly facilitates spraying, which must be done largely from under 

 the tree, the spray being directly outward in order to wet the lower 

 surfaces of |the leaves. Where trees are trimmed out in this way an 

 abundance of water sprouts usually spring up on the main limbs. The 

 mealy wing generally lays its eggs on these in great numbers, and 

 after a brood of mature winged insects have disappeared, it is a good 

 practice to prune off these water sprouts and burn them. In this way 

 great numbers of these insects may be destroyed at slight expense. 



Fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas, in the way it is generally 

 used, is also a very effective remedy. One treatment during the year, 

 if properly made should be sufficient. In the case of fumigation the 

 treatment should be made some time between December and the first of 

 March. During this period the temperature is usually much lower 

 than at any other time, and this is a feature of importance. In treat- 

 Place the resin, caustic soda, and fish roil in a large kettle. Pour over them 13 

 gallons of water aad boil till the resin is thoroughly dissolved, which requires 

 from three to ten minutfis after the materials begin to boil. While hot, add 

 enough water to make just 15 gallons. This may be most readily accomplished 

 by taking a tight keg or other tall receptacle and measuring into it 15 gadong 

 of water. Then plainly and permanently mark the height to which the 15 gallons 

 reach. After boiling, the hot so ution may be poured directly into this measurins 

 keg and sufficient water added to bring it up to the 15 gallon mark. This serves 

 as a stock preparation. 



When this stock preparation cools, a fine yellowish precipitate forms and 

 settles to the bottom of the vessel. The preparation must therefore be thorough- 

 ly stired each time before measuring out to dilute, so as to uniformly mix this 

 precipitate with the clear, dark, amber-brown liquid, which forms by far the 

 larger part of the stock preparation. An instrument like a churn dasher, without 

 perforations, greatly facilitlaes rapid and thorough mixing. When desired for 

 use, take one part of the stock preparation to nine parts of water. If the wash 

 be desired tor immediate use, the materials after boiling, and while still hot, may 

 be poured directly into the spray tank and diluted with cold water up to 150 gal- 

 lons. This requires the addition of about 135 gallons of water. 



If a fluid stock solution^is preferred, the wash may be prepared as follows : Place 

 the same proportions of resin, caustic soda, and fish oil in the kettle and pour over 

 them from 15 to 17 gallons of water. Boil until the r«sin is thoroughly dissolv- 

 ed and then dilute with cold water, while the solution is still very hot, to exactly 

 21 gallons. To get this exact amount the barrel may be prepared and marked in 

 the manner already described. This will form a clear, dark, amber-brown solu- 

 tion, which at ordinary Florida temperatures will remain perfectly fluid. For 

 use dilute the whole formula to 150 gallons or use in the proportions of one part 

 of the stock solution to six parts of water. 



