The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-05-11
THE BORDEAUX MIXTURE.

THE BORDEAUX MIXTURE.
While the lime-sulphur mixture Ii
being used by many orchardists as a
Substitute for the bordeaux In the
fighting of fungous diseases, the for
mer Is Btill the standby of the major
ity. For the benefit of those who have
not used 1t we give the following brief
directions for making: Dissolve five
pounds of copper sulphate tblue Wit
rloD In a tobacco pail nearly full of
water the evening before the solution
is to be made. Next Stake five pounds
of fresh stone lime. using care to pour
on sufficient water and 10 keep 1t
stirred to prevent burning. This slak-
ing of the lime may also be done the
day before one intends to use the solu-
ton. When ready to mix dilute the
bluestone solution to twenty-five gal
Ions in a fifty gallon vinegar barrel;
also dilute the lime as far as practi-
cable In the receptacle In which Ii was
Blaked and pour slowly into the larger
barrel containing the bluestone. stir
ring the while. II all of the lime Is
taken up by the first water applied, all
right: II not. add more and stir thor
oughly SO all of the lime will be dis
solved. Pour this into the big barrel
and add enough more water to make
ffty gallons. This gives what is called
the $3.50 solution Before using the
mixture should be tested to see IL
there is an excess Of lime by adding
few drops of prussiate of potash solu-
ton Ia deadly poison) to small guam
tity of the solution. Ii a chocolate col
ored precipitate is made 1t means the
solution Is acid and more lime should
be added. A considerable excess of lime
does no harm. and II Is well TO be on
the safe side The directions above
given are for the preparation of linn
tied quantity OF the solution for use In
a hand spraying outfit. with a tank con-
tanning twenty to thirty gallons.
II power outfit. with 80 or 200
gallon tank Is used. a stock solution of
the bluestone should be kept. made
by suspending In small tank or
barrel containing two or three pals OF
water more bluestone crystals than
will dissolve This gives what Is call
ed a saturated solution. one gallon of
which contains about three pounds of
bIuestone; hence to make fifty gallons
of the mixture take one and two
third gallons of the buestone solu-
ton aud for 100 gallons of mixture
three and one-third gallons. and so on.
! I l. In, ln nf a
larger quantity will need to be slaked
and may be kept covered with water
bet ween spraying intervals. In max
ing up the larger quantities of the
spray mixture the same rule should
be followed In testing with the prussi-
ate of potash to insure an excess of
lime. In putting into the spray tank.
whether large or small the solution
should be strained through brass
strainer or a couple of thicknesses of
gunny sacking. The most effective
spraying with the bordeaux Is given
Just after the blossom stems separate.
but before the individual buds open
up. In treatments after this one
commercial arsen8te OF lead may be
added TO the bordeaux solution nj the
rate of about two and half pounds
10 fifty gallons of the solution. The
spray will be most effective If applied
with the heaviest pressure possible.
while throughout the operation the
solution should be kept thoroughly
stirred In order TO insure n uniform
strength. In orchards which have
never been sprayed the bordeaux
should be applied three or four times
at intervals of about three weeks