78 
SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 
rated in the boiling, making exactly fifteen gallons. This is 
now preserved in this strength. As it cools a copious fine 
precipitate forms which gradually settles to the bottom of the 
receptacle which contains the preparation. When it is de¬ 
sired to use the spray, stir the preparation thoroughly to uni¬ 
formly mix this precipitate, then measure out and dilute in 
the proportions of one part of the preparation to nine parts of 
water. 
The secret of the failures that have resulted from using the 
rosin wash spray, have been from using poor materials. I 
would recommend that the 98 per cent, caustic soda be used 
in preparing the wash, as • by so doing we may, as shown 
above, very much shorten the lime necessary to prepare the 
wash, and thus cheapen it. 
This rosin wash would more properly be called a rosin soap, 
as a double soap is formed in its preparation, a rosin soap andf 
a fish oil soap. If we reduce the amount of water which we 
add in boiling the material, we have a nearly solid soap formed 
of about the consistency of the common soft soap manufact¬ 
ured by housewives. The material could be used in this form* 
but requires rather too much stirring to dissolve it, to render 
this method of preparation practical. 
Rosin can be purchased in Jacksonville at from $1 to $1.50 
per barrel of 275 pounds. 
Crude fish oil can be purchased in New York or Philadel¬ 
phia for from thirty to forty cents per gallon. 
Ninety-eight per cent, caustic soda can be purchased in 
New York or Philadelphia for from to 5^ cents per pound. 
The cost of making the wash would thus be as follows: 
20 pounds rosin, at per pound.10c. 
3 pints fish oil at 5c (40c per gallon).15 
4 | lbs. 98per cent, caustic soda, at 5jc.. ..22 
Cos' for 50 gal ons... 47c. 
The wash as prepared to put on the trees would thus cost 
approximately one-third cents per gallon. 
The wash is easily handled, runs through the pump easy,, 
spreads on the leaves well and is very effective. 
An equivalent amount of caustic potash could probably be 
used in place of the caustic soda, but I have not yet had an 
opportunity to try this. If it should prove successful, how¬ 
ever, as I mistrust it will, even considering the value of the- 
fertilizer thus added to- the field, the spray will not be mate¬ 
rially lessened in cost. 
