
New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 259 
MAKING AND APPLYING THE BORDEAUX MIXTURE. 
Many of my correspondents, state positively that no injury results 
from “properly made bordeaux mixture.” Bulletins and_horti- 
cultural press urge the necessity of using the “ properly made” 
mixture, though scarcely any two men make the spray in the same 
manner. After years of teaching students how to make bordeaux 
mixture “ properly,” and after having talked much about the sup- 
posed virtues of bordeaux mixture made in such and such a way, 
I am convinced that much of such talk is worse than useless. It 
has made this spray a bugbear to the average farmer when in 
reality it is simply putting a solution of copper sulphate and the 
milk of lime together. I can find no data to show that the manner 
of putting the ingredients together makes the slightest difference 
in controlling fungi or in preventing injury. The manner of 
putting the ingredients together does make a great difference in 
the physical composition of the mixture, and it is quite worth while 
to strive for a mixture of good physical composition. But the 
idea that failing to have a certain color, or condition of suspension, 
means any loss of fungicidal properties; or that power to cause 
injury is thus brought about, is erroneous. There is little basis 
for the claim so often made that “ properly made bordeaux mix- 
tures’ do not injure fruit or foliage. 
Due care was exercised in making all of the mixtures used in 
these experiments. The writer personally weighed, measured, and 
combined all ingredients used. The method of making was.that 
recommended in Bulletin 243 of this Station, in common use 
throughout the State. The copper sulphate was dissolved and 
diluted to one-half of the 50 gallons of water. The lime was 
slaked and diluted with the remaining half of the water. The 
two diluted ingredients were then poured together in the spray 
tank. Lastly the arsenate of lead was added. The mixture was 
thoroughly agitated during its application. 
The spraying was done with a gasoline power outfit equipped 
with Vermorel nozzles. The pressure was kept high, giving a 
fine mist. The trees were sprayed from every direction, the effort 
being to do the work thoroughly and yet not drench the trees 
so that the spray ran from them. It was assumed that injury 
might be caused by over-spraying and great care was taken not 
to spray too heavily. The workmen in the orchard were super- 
vised by one or another of the assistants in the Horticultural 
Department. : 
