1910.] Winter Washing of Fruit Trees. 



333 



quence materially reduced. Further, some of the insects are 

 killed by the wash itself. 



It has been found in practice that a wash used with effect 

 against an insect in its adult, larval, or pupal stage, may 

 prove quite ineffective against the egg of the insect, and hence 

 winter washing should be followed by careful observation 

 in spring, so that young, newly-hatched insects may be dealt 

 with— according to their kind — before they have had time to 

 do great harm or to multiply. 



Formula for Winter Wash. — The materials necessary for 

 the new caustic winter wash are : Caustic soda (98 per cent.), 

 sulphate of iron, lime, paraffin, and water. 



In the revised leaflet (No. 70) issued two years ago (January, 

 1908), an emulsion-soda wash composed of paraffin, soft soap, 

 caustic soda and water was recommended. As a result of 

 experiment, an improvement has been suggested by Mr. S. U. 

 Pickering, F.R.S., Director of the Woburn Experimental 

 Fruit Farm, whose formula is now recommended, viz. : 

 Iron sulphate, J lb.; lime, \ lb.; caustic soda, 2 lb.; paraffin 

 (solar distillate), 5 pints; and water to make 10 gallons. 



In order to prepare the wash the iron sulphate should be 

 dissolved in about 9 gallons of water. The lime should 

 then be slaked in a little water and well stirred, a little 

 more water being added to make a "milk." The "milk" 

 of lime should next be run into the iron sulphate solution 

 through a piece of sacking or a fine sieve, to remove grit or 

 coarse particles. The paraffin should then be added and the 

 mixture churned thoroughly. Just before using, the caustic 

 soda, in the powdered form, should be added to complete 

 the "wash." 



This wash, which has both a cleansing property and an 

 insecticidal value, is recommended for application while the 

 trees are dormant, and certainly before the buds have burst. 

 Perhaps the greatest advantage would result from such & 

 wash if applied about the beginning of February. 



Note. — As the wash has a burning effect on the hands, 

 care should be exercised in employing it. Rubber gloves are 

 sometimes used to protect the hands, but these should be so 

 secured that the wash cannot run in under the rubber. The 

 face, the eyes especially, should also be protected. 



