34 



Adoption of Lime-Sulphur in Virginia. 



As a result of the experiments conducted in Mrginia during 

 1909, by the Bureau of Plant Industry, practically all of the Vir- 

 ginia apple orchards were sprayed with the lime-sulphur solution 

 during the past season. A\'e personally examined some of these 

 orchards and have had reports from many of them. In every case, 

 so far as we have been able to ascertain, the results were satisfac- 

 tory both as to the control of diseases and as to the effect of the 

 spray on fruit and foliage. In the early part of the season there 

 were a number of reports of injury to the young leaves, but in no 

 case did^ this prove to be serious. In the Yellow Xewton orchards 

 where bitter rot is a serious factor, the lime-sulphur solution was 

 used in tlie early treatments for scab and leaf-spot and this was 

 followed by applications of Bordeaux for bitter rot. This plan 

 was entirely successful, the russeting of the fruit having been 

 avoided and the bitter rot disease controlled. 



Conclusions and Recommendations. 



The evidence obtained from various experiments conducted 

 by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and several of the experi- 

 ment stations, seems to warrant the following conclusions : 



Bordeaux mixture often russets the fruit and injure? the foli- 

 age of many varieties of apples and its use in the early part of the 

 season should therefore be avoided as much as possible. 



Lime-sulphur solution, diluted so as to contain four pounds 

 of sulphur in each fifty gallons of spray, is a good substitute for 

 Bordeaux mixture in the treatment of apple scab and some other 

 diseases, and will not materially russet the fruit nor injure the foli- 

 age. The concentrated solution mav be purchased from the factory 

 and diluted at the rate of 1^2 gallons to 50 gallons of water, or it 

 may be prepared at home. 



This fungicide will control apnle scab, fruit spot, leaf -spot 

 and cedar rust fulh' as well as Bordeaux mixture, but has not 3^et 

 proved to be as satisfactory for bitter rot. \Miere it is necessary 

 to spray for this disease, the early lime-sulphur applications for 

 scab may be followed at the proper time with Bordeaux for bit- 

 ter rot, thus avoiding the russet and vet controlling the rot. There 

 is also some doubt about the efficiency of lime-sulphur in con- 

 trolling apple blotch and where this disease is bad Bordeaux should 

 be used. 



Arsenate of lead may be safely and successfully used in com- 

 bination with the dilute lime-sulphur solution for the control of the 

 codling moth and other insects. 



The course of treatment best suited to this section may be out- 

 lined as follows : 



Use the commercial lime-sulphur at a strength of 1V2 gallons 

 to 50 gallons of water, or an equivalent strength of the home-made 

 preparation, with the addition of 2 lbs. of arsenate of lead in each 

 50 gallons of sprav. Spray the varieties subject to apple scab: (i) 

 as soon as the buds have opened, just before blooming; (2) as soon 



