Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-02-27

No fruit grower in West Virginia is
safe unless he applies a thorough dor
mant spray to his orchard The San
Jose Scale is SO prevalent throughout
the state that no one need be surprised
to find 1t established in his plantation.
This orchard pest can be successfully
combatted only by applications of
strong caustio or corrosive sprays
while the tree is not in leaf. While
the scale is the most important or
chard enemy to be combatted by dor
mant sprays, 1t is by no means the
only one. The Blister Mite may be
controlled and some eggs of the Oyster
Shell and Scurfy Scales may be killed,
as may also the tiny black eggs of the
Green Aphis. Among diseases, the
peach leaf curl is held in check by
winter application, while the first blow
against apple scab is dealt at this time.
What To Spray With.
Several materials may be used for
dormant spraying to accomplish differ
ent purposes Oil sprays, such as
scalicide, will be effective against
scale, Bordeaux Mixture will control
leaf curl, but Lime-Sulphur solution
will do the work Of both. AS it Is
cheaper, easier and more satisfactory
to apply and Is usually considered
more effective, this last-named solu-
ton is now used almost to the exclu-
sion of all others for winter treatment.
Either the concentrated commercial
solution or the homemade product
may be used with equal effect. The
owner of a small orchard will probably
find it more convenient to use the COM
mercial product rather than to go to
the trouble of making his own. The
large grower, on the other hand, will
probably find 1t worth while to get the
materials and make his own at a saw
ing of from three to five dollars per
barrel.
How To Make Homemade Lime
Sulphur.
For equipment one should have a
large kettle holding sixty or seventy
gallons. This will allow q full barrel
Of liquid boiled at time without dan
ger of boiling over. Better yet
would be a boiler where live steam
could be produced and used for the
heating agency. In this case wooden
tanks or barrels could be used for boil
ing.
To make fifty gallons of the con-
centrated solution, weigh out forty
pounds of lime and slake 1t in about
ten gallons of hot water in the boiling
vessel, adding the Jumps of lime grad
ualIy to avoid too violent boiling
Eighty pounds Of sulphur should In the
meantime be weighed out and moisten-
ed, stirring constantly until it makes a
thin paste. This paste should be grad
ually poured into the shaking lime and
stirred to prevent the formation of
Jumps. When the shaking has finished
add water to bring the amount up to
fifty gallons and boil gently for one
hour.
The cost of this homemade solution
will not exceed $3.50 for actual mate
rails. Commercial sulphur -four may
be purchased for $3.50 to $3.50 per 100
pounds, T. o. b., New York City, of
several firms. prominent among which
are Battelle & Renwick, 165 Front
street, and Bergenport Sulphur Works,
100 William street Freight rates would
probably not raise this price to more
than 5000. High-grade lump lime may
be secured in most cases at prices not
to exceed go cents hundred pounds.
Several farmers in community may
order in ton lots at about $500 ton,
including freight, thus greatly reduc-
ing cost. The lime should be guaran-
teed at least 80 per cent pure. and
should be free from dust, dirt and air
slaked material.
This will make a concentrated sclu-
ton that will keep through the season
If stored in filled and tightly-corked
barrels, unless the weather approaches
zero. 1t may be kept in open vessels
If layer Of oil is poured over the SUR
face to prevent access Of air.
Each barrel or separate lot should
be tested with Beaume Hydrometer
and its strength marked on the con-
tainer for use at spraying time. These
hydrometers are weighted, hollow
glass tubes or cylinders having grad.