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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 ioo 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/ 7 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,” ioo 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, l£ in. or 2 in. in diameter and from 6 in. to 9 in. long, is fitted, 
fhe 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. 
