The Florida agriculturist., 1907-08-14

ers will be compelled to fall back on
fumigation as a means of combating
their insect enemies AS we under
stand it, one thorough fumigatiOn is
sufficient for the season; in that case
it would not be any more expensive
than the numerous sprayings which are
necessary each year, while the result
is very much better. Of course, the
outfit for fumigation is much more
expensive, but it will, no doubt, be
found best for companies to buy out
fits and do the work by contract. The
Rural Californian gives some very ex-
plicit directions for the work, which
we think will be found useful:
Following is report Of committee
appointed by the Claremont Horticul-
tural club: Your committee believes
that for most fruit growers, especially
away from the coast, and certainly in
the orange orchard, that fumigation is
the most reliable and desirable method
yet discovered to fight the black. red
and purple scale
The points to be emphasized are:
Sound tents with no holes, which per-
NIT no escape Of gas, no stint of dos
age, with the best cyanide of potassium
and acid, with the leaving Of the tents
on for the full time.
Fumigat from September I to Feb
ruary I, only at night, never when
wet or rainy, never when there is
''norther," and only when the grove
is in the best condition possible. Do
not commence before o'clock p m.
S will do on cloudy days-and do
not leave the tents on the trees after
daylight in the morning.
The best tents are the octagonal,
sheet tents, made of 8-ounce double
filled duck, sewed with double seams,
and the best linen thread These are
easiest handled, and most easily NOV
ed. For trees not over IS feet in
height tents Al feet wide are desirable,
but for larger trees, tents IS feet, or
wider, are required An outfit of from
80 to IS tents best serves economy.
To prevent ruination by mi1dew,
when the tents are damp, they must
be dipped. This is done in large
tank, made either of galvanized or
boiler iron, These should be 3x1o
feet and 21z feet deep. The bottom
should be rounded. This must be on
a good arch, so as to permit a fire
under it. The smoke pipe or chimney
of arch must be high to secure draft.
A derrick made of three poles above
the tank, supplied with pul1eys and
rope, makes dipping easy, and per-
mits raising of the tent and dripping
after the dipping is completed. 1t also
aids in keeping the tent from the bot
tom of the tank and burning, which
must be avoided.
The tank is filled to near the top
with water, made very dark by adding
half barrel of oak extract or tannin
This is we'll stirred. The tannin should
NOt be added till the water is boiling
The tent is lowered into the tank of
boiling water and extract and boiled
tor half an hour. It is now raised
from the water, and after dripping
ceases it is spread out to dry. The
tank is filled again, and the tannin
is added till the color is a reddish
brown, and then another tent may be
dipped
The cart is best to use in the field
for carrying cyanide and acid. A
gasoline torch, two lanterns, hammer
and hatchet and scales are necessary.
Barrels of water are placed centrally
IN convenient places within the or
chard during the day, as are the two
gallon jugs of acid, and the boxes
OF cyanide. When at work the acid
is turned into a stOneWare churn, and
this is dipped out by the use of a