668 Birds and Fruit Growers. [fep.., 



linnets. Fruit-devouring birds are bad enough ; but bud-eaters 

 are far more wholesale destroyers of fruit crops. 



Some lovers of birds may raise the objection that bud-eating 

 may be prevented by spraying. Possibly this may be the 

 case where a grower is prepared to spray any number of 

 times in a season that may be necessary. In a rainy winter, 

 however, the spray-stuff may be washed off several times ; and 

 it may happen that severe frost, snow, or persistently wet 

 weather will prevent spraying immediately after the trees and 

 bushes have been denuded of their protective coating. 



In this Journal for February, 1905, an effective wash was 

 described, consisting of 200 lb. of lime, 50 lb. of flowers of sul- 

 phur, and 75 lb. of soft soap in 150 gallons of water. It was 

 remarked, however, that although the sulphur was sprinkled 

 over layers of lime during the process of slaking, the soft soap, 

 separately dissolved, being added afterwards, the mixture 

 clogged the nozzles of the spraying machine frequently. Conse- 

 'quently a mixture of potassium sulphide and soft soap was also 

 tried in 1905, with one or two other mixtures. In that season, 

 however, for some unaccountable reason, gooseberries and plums 

 in the place of trial were not disbudded by birds, whether 

 sprayed or not sprayed. Therefore the trials were useless. Last 

 winter a mixture which sprays easily was used, and it stuck to 

 the bushes well, until rain, coming on three days out of four fo^- 

 about five weeks, had washed it off, and extensive disbudding 

 took place, after which a second operation prevented further 

 noticeable damage. 



The ingredients of this wash are 60 lb. of quicklime, 30 lb. of 

 flowers of sulphur, 12 lb. of caustic soda, and 10 lb. of soft 

 soap to 100 gallons of water. The method of mixmg, which 

 it is important to follow, is : — Mix the sulphur into a paste, 

 beating it up well while somewhat stiff, and gradually thinning 

 it, and pour it over the lime. Stir the ingredients thoroughly 

 until the lime is slaked, adding only as much water as is 

 necessary to allow of stirring. Then add the caustic soda, and 

 stir it in until the renewed boiling action which it sets up is 

 finished. Dissolve the soft soap separately by boiling it in two 

 or three gallons of water, and stir it well in with the other 

 ingredients of the wash, afterwards adding enough water to 



