Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-22
SPRAYING FOR
SAN JOSE SCALE
BY L. E. woRsHAM. STATE ENTO-
MOLOGIST.

BY L. E. WORSHAM. STATE ENTO-
MOLOGIST.
The Georgia state board of entomol-
ogy has recently concluded a series of
experiments with various soluble oils and
lime and sulphur compounds as remedial
measures for San Jose scale. The results
of these experiments, soon to be sent
out from the department in bulletin form,
are sure to be of value to fruit growers
and orchardists Of Georgia.
The purpose of the experiments was to
test the efficiency of soluble oil COM
pounds as compared with the standard
homemade preparation of lime and sui
phur, and the more recently introduced
manufactured compounds of lime and
sulphur. Six different oils were included
in the test, as follows: Target Brand
Emulsion, Scale-cide, San-U-Zay, Solu-
BILE Petroleum, Kil-O Scale, Scharr's Scale
Compound No. l, and Schnarrs Scale
Compound No. 2 Two brands of prepared
lime and sulphur were used alongside of
the oil. These preparations were the
products of the Thomson Chemical COM
pany and the Grasselli Chemical COM
pany. respectively. One plat of trees was
sprayed with the standard boiled mixture
of lime and sulphur, prepared on the
grounds.
Several of the soluble oils in the above
list have been known in Georgia for a
nuHaber of years. They have been used
in different sections of the state with
varying degrees of success. Primarily
they were intended to fill the demand for
an insecticide other than the homemade
lime and sulphur, with which there was
considerable dissatisfaction because of
the trouble involved in making and APP
plying it. To a large extent they dis
lie Al,
results obtained from oils have not al
ways been satisfactory. 1t has been the
experience of many fruit growers that
they were unreliable. and there has been
, much complaint from various sources
that they. as scale destroyers. were not
entirely satisfactory.
Within the past two years prepared
concentrated lime and sulphur has made
it's appearance in the field. This COM
pound is a reddish liquid, strained and
perfectly free of solid matter Two years
ago 1t was tried in an experimental way
by the department, and promised we'll as
scale insecticide. Last winter IT was
used extensively in the commercial or
chards of the state, and in every case
where 1t was we'll applied the results
were Of a very high order. Although not
showing on the trees as plainly as the
homemade material, it leaves them a
dull gray in color, sufficiently so to de-
termine the quality of the spraying. Be
side the homemade product of the lime
and sulphur wash, the manufactured ar
ticle compares most favorably. When
! manufactured by a reliable company the
latter is really more uniform in compo-
sition than the former
The following is a summary of our
report on preparations used in our expert
ments:
1T will be seen in the preceding pages
that all the oils included in the test, par
ticularly those whose reputation is we'll
established, gave excellent results in con-
trolling scale. As a rule they may be de-
pended upon to give satisfaction when
properly and thoroughly mixed and APP
piled. Too great emphasis cannot be
placed on the necessity of doing the &C
tual field work thoroughly. An inch OF
badly infested limb or twig. left I'M
touched by the spray, is capable of large
Ily re-infesting practically the entire tree
the following summer.
while each oil was applied as a spring
treatment and as a fall treatment, II was
found in every case that the fall treat
men was of superior effectiveness. This is
a rule: the earlier the spray can be ap-
piled after the leaves have fallen. the bet
ter will be the net results, all other con-
ditions being equal.
1.-The mechanical appliances of applica- |
ton are extremely important especially !
with soluble oils. A good pump develop |
ing high pressure, and nozzle throwing |
a direct, forceful spray are very neces-
sary to obtain good results.
''The concentrated lime and sulphur So
lutions, being free of all solid matter, Of
fer no more serious obstacles to easy
spraying than the oils They are much
more caustic in nature, however, and it IL
we'll to be protected from continuous
physical contact with them. Under we'll
regulated conditions they spray as easily
as water might, and are no more harmful;
to the person, compared to the soluble
oil compounds for efficiency, they yield
quite as good results as the best oils,
even when the latter are used at a great
err strength than that recommended by the
different manufacturers. A tree wei
sprayed with lime and sulphur always
offers a cleaner, brighter and healthie,
appearance than a tree equally we'll
sprayed with an oil. Besides its strictly
insecticidal value lime and sulphur pos
sess fungicidal properties to a much