The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1903-04-30

tlvated plants have proven more cas-
lily or surely prevented than the Leaf
Curl OF the peach. 1t has beer demon.
strated beyond question that even
the worst affected orchards may, by
proper spraying at the right season,
be practically freed OF the pest, and
with single application of the treat
ment. Numerous fungicides have
been used and recommended, but of
them all the safest and most effective
has proven 10 be the Bordeaux mix
ture. This should be applied in late
winter or early spring. After the buds
nave become swollen the germs of the
Fungus begin to penetrate the tissues
and the treatment is therefore less
effective, so that it is necessary to
begin spraying in time to finish at
least two weeks before the trees are
likely to bloom. A little later when
the young leaves have begun to push
out and the evidences of the disease
become apparent. it Is altogether too
late, and a spraying, so far as the
leal curl is concerned, would be a
waste OF labor and material.
1t is very important in spraying for
this disease that every part of the
tree be reached by the Bordeaux or
other mixture used, for If a limb or a
portion OF a limb be missed the fungus
VIII develop upon it, and thus tend
TO re-infect to some degree the rest
of the tree.
Formula and Directions.
Bordeaux is composed of mix.
ture of the diluted solutions of lime
and bluestone and may be prepared
from the following formula:
pounds fresh, unslaked lime.
pounds bluestone (sulphate of cop
PERI.
bO gallons of water.
AS much as six pounds of bluestone
and an equal quantity of lime NAV be
employed with safety and perhaps
adVantageously in some cases. How
ever, when it Is desired to use Ror.
deaux for brown rot or other diseases
NAS ANAi06N 10 OuLs Iu0 QUANTITY
OF biuestone should be reduced to 3
pounds and that of lime increased to
nine pounds, because of the injurious
eject that strong Bordeaux has unon
peach foliage.
Stake the lime carefully with iust
enough water to reduce 1t to the con.
slstency OF thick cream and dilute tn
20 gallons; dissolve the bluestone in
20 gallons OF water also. Then in a
separate barrel mix the two solutions
hrst pouring in a bucket of one and
then a bucket of the other. or better
still, pouring then in simultaneously
After thoroughly stirring the mixture
and allowing it to stand for few mo-
ments 1t Ia ready to be strained into
the spray pump tank.
When thus prepared. Bordeauc IA
at its best, consisting Of a fine foe.
ulent, pale blue precipitate suspended
in the water. II either or both of the
ingredients should be In concentrated
solution when the mixing is done the
resulting Bordeaux In coarser grain.
ed, settles much more quickly and is
less effective as a spray. Even the
best will begin to settle quickly on
standing, and 1t is essential that the
spray pump be supplied with an agi.
tator that will keep it stirred in the
act Of pumping.
The bluestone may be gotten into
solution more quickly and readily bv
suspending 1t In the corner OF a fer.
tilizer sack just below the surface of
the water, or by the use Of a small
quantity OF hot water.
When considerable amount OF
spraying is to be done, 1t will be
found convenient to prepare stock So
lutions by dissolving 25 pounds or so
pounds of bluestone in an equal mum.
Der OF gallons of water, while a like
amount of lime is slaked and diluted
to similar volume. Then by dipping
out five gallons Of either solution it
will be seen that an equal number
OF pounds of lime and bluestone will
be secured, and the separate weighing
and dissolving OF the small lots be
avoided. The two ingredients should
never be mixed unless diluted as be-
fore described