THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
5i7 
New York. It is impossible to estimate closely the damage done by 
the mite, since injuries from other causes like poor drainage, insect 
attacks, unfavorable weather and spraying mixtures are mistaken 
for work of the mite or combined with it. Many careful fruit men, 
however, believe that their orchards have been, or are liable to be, so 
much injured by the pest that they must adopt some repressive 
measures against it. 
Tests of Sprays 
In the planned experiments four orchards were treated, one 
owned by the Station and three by others who cooperated in the 
tests. Experiments were also made, not under Station direction, by 
owners of eleven other orchards. These volunteer experiments are 
especially valuable as showing the practicability of treatment for 
mites. Each of these orchards was quite seriously infested before 
treatment and in each case the result was such decided lessening in 
numbers of the mites that the injury to foliage or fruit was reduced 
to a minimum. 
In the Station orchard comparison was made between sulphur 
washes (both home-made and commercial preparations), miscible 
oil and kerosene emulsion. These tests were made both on parallel 
plats through the orchard and on parts of individual trees treated 
by thirds, fourths or fifths as necessary to accommodate the mix¬ 
tures compared, reserving a check section on each tree. Fall and 
spring spraying were also tested side by side. 
In none of the other orchards was the treatment so varied, but in 
twelve of the fifteen, the lime-sulphur wash was given a good test 
with excellent results; in the other three, miscible oils or kerosene 
emulsion were used. In most of these orchards, unsprayed areas or 
trees were left; and on these or on orchards of neighbors, the work of 
the mites was much more noticeable than on sprayed sections. On 
treated trees, as a rule, only scattered leaves showed spotting, the 
main body of foliage was green and vigorous and in some cases the 
leaves were apparently larger than those on unsprayed trees. 
Pimpling and distortion of the fruit were almost highly prevented. 
The spraying often so improved the foliage that the contrast between 
treated and check areas was plain, even at considerable distances 
from the orchards. 
In the cases where comparisons were made, particularly in the 
Station orchard, little difference in effectiveness was to be detected 
between the different sprays. Marked differences were found, 
of course, in the effect in the various orchards; but these variations 
were usually due to the diverse standards of spraying held by those 
who made the applications. In one case only about one and one- 
half gallons of wash was applied to a tree, in others five, while in 
most cases seven or eight were thought necessary for good treat¬ 
ment, and in one case ten gallons was used. Even with the mini¬ 
mum applications decided reduction of the mites was secured. 
Home-Made Concentrated Sulphur Wash 
A new feature in these tests was the use of concentrated sulphur 
washes, both commercial and home-made. These compared favor¬ 
ably with the ordinary boiled washes, and they possess some merits 
which recommend them. The home-made concentrated wash, in 
particular, should be widely tested by orchardists for the mites. Its 
advantages are two: It may be prepared in concentrated solutions 
to be diluted as needed; and it has no coarse sediment to clog the 
nozzles and to cause the rapid wearing out of the packing, lining and 
other parts of the pump. This mixture and the commercial prepara¬ 
tions now enable many of our fruit-growers to use a sulphur wash, 
who for the reasons given have refrained from using this spray as 
prepared by the old method. 
Formula for Boiled-Lime Sulphur Wash 
Lump lime . 20 pounds 
Sulphur. 15 pounds 
Water . 50 gallons 
Preparation of Sulphur Sprays 
Place the lime and sulphur in the cooking receptacle containing 
about fifteen to twenty gallons of water. Stir the mixture frequent¬ 
ly and boil for one hour. Add water to make the required amount 
of wash and strain through a fine brass-wire strainer into the spray¬ 
ing tank. Applications should be made while the wash is warm. 
Formula for Home-Made Concentrated Lime-Sulphur Wash 
Lump lime . 00 pounds 
Sulphur.125 pounds 
Water . 50 gallons 
Slake the lime in the cooking receptacle and stir in the sulphur, 
which has been made into a thin paste with water. Add enough 
water to make about 45 gallons of mixture, which should be boiled 
for one or more hours. After the cooking is completed allow the 
wash to stand until the sediment has settled to the bottom, when 
the clear, brownish liquid should be drawn off. To this add water, 
if needed to make the required 50 gallons of concentrated solution. 
For use, dilute the concentrated sulphur solution at the rate of 
five gallons of the liquid to 45 gallons of water. To every barrel of 
50 gallons capacity, of the diluted spray, add from 10 to 15 pounds 
of lime, made into a paste. The addition of the lime is not neces¬ 
sary, but by its use the trees are given a whitewashed appearance, 
which enables farmers to judge better of the thoroughness of their 
spraying. This mixture may be used immediately after cooking, 
or may be barreled, to be drawn on as occasion requires. A greater 
dilution than that recommended may perhaps be employed in spray¬ 
ing for the mite. To avoid the loss of sulphur, the sediment that 
remains after drawing off the concentrated solution should be boiled 
over again with fresh lime and water, and the liquid used to start 
fresh preparations or for purposes of dilution. 
Commercial Lime-Sulphur Preparations 
During the past year, a number of these preparations have ap¬ 
peared on the market. Two of the most widely advertised have 
been quite extensively tested in various Station experiments with 
the blister-mite, and at the strength employed, one part to nine 
parts' of water, have proven very efficient remedies. A number of 
fruit growers who have heretofore equally satisfactory results, 
fruit-growers ] who have heretofore refrained fromfiising the lime- 
sulphur wash for the mite, because of the trouble of making and the 
expense of a suitable cooking outfit, may now use one of the commer¬ 
cial brands. Usually some lime paste should be added to these 
preparations, as, without it, it is difficult to tell how thoroughly the 
applications have been made. 
Directions for Using Sulphur Washes 
Applications of the lime-sulphur wash may be made in the fall 
after the majority of leaves have fallen or in the spring until the 
buds commence to break and to show the tips of the young leaves. 
Treatment should not be made later than this as the sulphur sprays 
are very destructive to the tender foliage and the mites may have 
gained entrance into the leaves, where they would be beyond the 
reach of the mixtures. If it is desired to treat the trees in the spring, 
the usual spraying at this time with the bordeaux mixture is unnec¬ 
essary. While the chemical reactions are not well understood, the 
usual amount of arsenate of lead may be added to the wash. By 
following this plan the work of spraying for the mite is greatly sim¬ 
plified, and for this reason it is generally preferred by orchardists. 
Liberal quantities of the sulphur wash should be applied and the 
trees after treatment should have the appearance of being completely 
whitewashed. 
BUSINESS MOVEMENTS 
Houston, Tex. —The LaPorte Orchard Co. has been -ncorpo- 
rated to grow, sell and purchase seeds, plants, trees, etc. The 
capital stock is $ 10 , 000 , and the incorporators are Daniel Powell, 
J. H. Powell, and W. A. Pitrat of Kansas City. 
New Haven, Conn. —The Northeastern Forestry Co. has com¬ 
pleted negoeiations for the purchase of 100 acres of land in 
Cheshire, to be used as a forestry nursery. The company’s plant 
in the Adirondacks will be removed to the new site, 
The Florists' Exchange. 
