The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-07-06
Preparation of Spray Mixture.

N'tepared by the United States Depart
| ment Of Agriculture)
The use Of homemade lime-sulphur
concentrate has been greatly encour-
aged the past few years by scientific
| Investigations and experiments. A Sc
ries of experiments carried on in Vir-
| ginia, Maryland and Michigan were
made at lime-sulphur plants operated
| by orchardists or individuals who sup
piled the concentrate to orchardists
in the immediate territory. The re
suits are published in the United
States Department of Agriculture Bull
letin No. 1877, Homemade Lime-Sul-
phur Concentrate"
In the many tests made Of lime-sul-
| phur concentrate, the bulletin tells
the varying degree Of density and the
| percentage Of sludge or sediment
| which resulted from the employment
Of different formulas. Orchardists
have found it difficult to obtain a con-
| sistently uniform density of concen-
| trated ime-sulphur solution even
though the same formula be employed
and the work be accomplished as
| nearly as possible in an Identical man
| ner for the different patches How
ever, this is of little Importance, since
1t is easy to test the density of the
concentrate and, provided it is too
dense, make dilutions in conformity
with the purpose for which it Is to
be used. A Baume hydrometer for
measuring the density of liquids heav-
Ter than water Is set into the solu-
ton and by reading the graduated
scale on the stem of the hydrometer
the density can be easily ascertained.
In the experiments the 5O-100-5O Mix
ture registered wide range, % to 81
| degrees. In the highly concentrated
solution described below the reading
| should average 80 to "a degrees after
the lime has been filtered out.
The 50-100-50 formula, which means
80 pounds of lime, 100 pounds of sui
phur and water to make 80 gallons Of
the concentrated solution is recon-
mended. A good grade of fresh lime
stone, containing not less than 80 per
cent Of calcium oxide is necessary for
the best results. However, hydrated
lime is sometimes used, but it is nee
essary to use a good grade and at
least 20 per cent more of this form
of lime as it contains large amount
of moisture.
Making Concentrated LIme-suIphur
on Small Scale.
One of the homemade cooking
plants consisted of a 12-horse-power
boiler from which steam was con-
Quoted into two 50-gallon barrels. No
coils were used in the bottoms of the
barrels, the steam being emitted
through the open end of a straight
pipe extending within few inches of
the bottom of the barrel. Small
patches Of the 50-100-50 formula,
| amounting to 25 gallons of the fin
ished product, were cooked at time
About twenty gallons Of water were
put into the barrel, the steam turned
on, and the water brought to the boil
ing point. The lime was then put in
and after it had begun to slake the
sulphur was added. The mixture was
stirred thoroughly throughout the
time of cooking, which lasted an hour
1t was allowed to settle about twelve
hours, and then the clear solution was
siphoned off. The sludge or sediment
was put into a cider press and the
clear solution, pressed out, using ten
ounce canvas cloth for filter. In these
experiments commercial ground sui
phur and good grade of lime was
used.
A highly concentrated lime-sulphur
solution may be made by using the
lime and sulphur at the ratio of one
to two, as is usually recommended,
but with reduced quantities of water.
The formula used in some commercial
lime-sulphur manufacturing plants Is
as follows: Fresh stone lime 80
pounds, commercial ground sulphur
100 pounds, and water to make the
| finished product measure SO gallons.
While there is about so per cent in
volume of sediment after allowing this
solution to settle for "a hours, there is
only apout to 10 per cent in volume
Of insoluble materials.
Relative Costs.
Commercial ground sulphur was
bought in car lots for about $3.50 per
100 pounds, and lime at about SO
cents per barrel At these prices the
highly concentrated solution can be
made at the following cost per barrel:
80 pounds lime at go cents per
barrel SOz0
160 pounds sulphur at $3.50 per
hundredweight .............. 2.40
Labor and fuel, estimated. ...... 10
Total cost per barrel Of 90
SoilOAS 3o-oO
This does not include interest and
wear on outfit, and cost Of containers