The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-01-22
LIME, SALT AND SULPHUR.
The Pacific Coast Fruit Growers.
Tree Wash In the East.

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Tree Wash In the East.
The lime, salt and sulphur wash is
almost exclusively relied upon by fruit
growers on the Pacific coast to keep
the San Jose scale in check. The first
eastern and southern experience with
this mixture was SO unsatisfactory that
practically the entire Pacific coast
practice was condemned as unreliable
on the Atlantic slope. Further use of it
seems to be bringing decided change
in this opinion. Professor ) A. Forbes
of Illinois is credited with saying that
he is convinced that this lime, salt and
sulphur wash is as nearly a perfect
remedial measure against the San Jose
scale insect as we can hope to obtain,
and Professor Forbes is one of the best
and most conservative entOmologists in
the country.
DR.. Smith of New Jersey, the well
known advocate of crude petroleum as
a scale remedy, has also found en-
enlargement in some of his expert
ments and observations of the expert
ence of others toward the use of the
lime, salt and sulphur mixture under
some circumstances. In bulletin 162 Of
the New Jersey experiment station he
gives the latest results and information
of value to any one who wishes to test
the wash such as the proper way of
making and applying II and the cost Of
the mixture.
Time of Application.
The time of application should be
late winter or early spring, before the
trees have made start. Any foliage
on the tree when sprayed will be
burned and destroyed, though usually
it will start again from dormant buds.
Thoroughness in application is essen
tial The wash does not spread like oil
or soap and kills only where it covers.
As it is white when dry the missed
places are readily seen and can be
mended up. A well sprayed tree should
look as If evenly covered by coat of
whitewash.
There is no advantage in spraying
twice.. e., in fall and spring
there may be danger of injury to the
peach. That the mixture should be
hot when applied is usually insisted
upon, but in some instances it has been
applied cold with quite rs good effect.
Nevertheless, it is safer Ia use as soon
as possible after * is mace 10 prevent
chemical changes. | would advise
spraying before pruning, unless the
trees are to be severely cut back. The
most difficult points to cover are the
small shoots and tips, and these fire.
quently carry. scales close to the buds.
In trimming IA sprayed tree such missed
spots can often be cut off. 1t is also
easier to cover mass of shoots than
sparse switches and takes no more ma
terial.
Range of Usefulness.
1t should be fully understood that not
even the lime, salt and sulphur wash
can bring dead tree to life. nor can it
prevent the death of any that are so
badly infested as to be drained of vi
tality. Except on the peach this wash
should not be too much relied upon
where trees are very thickly incrusted.
The crude petroleum is much more re-
liable in such cases, and judgment
should be used in deciding which mate
rial to use. In ordinary hands this
wash is safer than the OIL and in cases
of moderate infestation is probably just
as effective. 1t is therefore better
adapted for general use, except as al
ready mentioned. So far as known it
may be safely applied on any dormant,
woody plant and shrub. including the
small fruits. like currant, gooseberry
and the like Before spraying currants
all the old, badly infested shoots should
be cut out.