The Delta independent., 1902-05-16
Bordeaux Mixture.

Bordeaux Mixture.
The use of Bordeaux mixture for
| spraying trees in Colorado is general
| and by many deemed Indispensable.
| formula for the preparation of this
| mixture. which has been tried with
good results in Colorado. is given in
bulletin 90 of the Agricultural College
| Experiment Station at Fort Collins, is
| the following:
Copper sulphate. four pounds; lime.
| four pounds: wafer. forty gallons.
The copper sulphate must he dis
| solved in hot water If wanted for im-
| mediate use. Ii may be dissolved by
suspending 1t in sack in the top Of a
/ considerable quantity of cold water,
| but this method requires n much long
er time. II placed in the bottom of
\ the vessel IL viii not all dissolve. The
| best quality OF stone lime should be
purchased Stacked and diluted till II
| is in the form of a thin whitewash. AZ
ter the copper sulphate solution has
| been diluted 10 about thirty gallons.
the whitewash is poured in. stirred
| thoroughly and the mas diluted TO the
/ required forty-iive gallons. Ii Is essen
tial that both the copper sulphate Sc
| luton and the whtewash be quite d.
lutte before they are combined other
wise a coarse preclpitate il formed,
which does not pass through the spray
noZzles readily.
Where large amounts of Bordeaux
| are to be used IL i advantageous 10
keep on hand a stock OF dissolved cop
per sulphate and of Stacked lime. Ihe
stock OF copper sulphate may be made
| by dissolving. say. fifty pounds in
twenty-five gallons of water. Then one
gallon Of the solution will Ike equiva-
| lent to two pounds OF copper sulphate.
/ and two gallons will be required for
a barrel OF the mixture. The vessel
containing the solution should he kept
| closely covered 10 prevent evaporation.
| 1t should be mentioned. also. that cop
| per sulphate corrodes iron quickly.
\ therefore II must not be allowed To
| come in contact with iron vessels or
| tools.
| The lime may be Stacked in quanti-
| ties, when 1t will keep in good condi-
tion all summer, II 1t is not allowed
| to become dry. A chemical test for
| copper is taken advantage OF TO deter
mine the amount of lime paste TO be
used This is called the potassium fer
| rocyanide test. The chemical comes
| in the form of yellow crystals. and
| few cents worth will suffice for the
| entire season. II should be dissolved
| I'm ten times its bulk of water when
| II is ready for use. \ quantity OF
the lime paste in the form of thin
whitewash is added to the dilute cop
per sulphate solution. then the mixture
is stirred thoroughly. 4 drop OF the
test is now allowed to fall ON the sur
| face of the mixture II will instantly
turn 10 dark. reddish brown color
| II sufficient lime has been used. More
| ,Jl n h.a fasf shows
no reaction. when the mixture is ready
| for use \ slight excess OF lime VIII
| do no harm and will be safeguard
against possible error.
| Bordeaux mixture deteriorates rap
idly. therefore II should be used ON
the same day 1t is made.
The Department of Agriculture is
preparing TO fight the ravagcs OF the
| San Juan scale throughout the country
with its natural enemy, the lady hug,
brought from the Interior of China.
There can be no doubt about the
| utility of narrowing oats in this dry
climate when the crop is two or three
inches high. This practice not only
conserves the moisture but increases
the yield. The work is pest adapted
TO drilled ground. although there are
those who do not hesitate to 80 in up
on II stand that was sown by broad
casting When the grain is young,
the ground Is severely exposed To the
action of the wind and sun and thus
loses large quantities of water. BY
cultivating or scratching the surface
of the ground. this loss will be largely
prevented just as IL is In cornfield
that is well cultivated. Thus far the
season has been very cool and dry aud
IL behooves every good grain grower to
adopt the very best methods in pro
noting tilth and saving moisture
Field and Farm.
Small gardens intended for supply
ing the families of farmers should be
made 80 produce two or three crops
during the year. says n western farm
paper. As Is well known. there are
early and late crops and the land can
be made to do service from spring un-
til frost appears in autumn. Radishes.
lettuce and early peas can be gotten
out of the way for late cabbage, and
kale or other early greens should be
consumed In time TO permit of using
the plot for egg plants. tomatoes or
other later crops. OF course. no good
results can he obtained unless an abun-
dant supply OF irrigation and manure is
used. as the plants in n garden should
I've forced from the start. Many mex
perienccd persons will secure an early
crop and then allow weeds to take pos
session of the garden. Not single
weed should ever he permitted to grow
on garden soil at any season OF the
year. BY persistently destroying weeds
as fast as they put In nm appearance
there will arrive time when there
will be no weeds In the garden.