The Yale expositor., 1915-07-01

| prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricuture)
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.
GINA, 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 con-
sistently uniform density Of concen-
trated lime-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 1t Is too
dense, make dilutions in conformity
with the purpose for which 1t 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 50-100-50 Mix.
ture registered a wide range, 25 to 81
degrees. In the highly concentrated
solution described below the reading
should average 33 to "a degrees after
the lime has been filtered out.
The 50-10O-5O formula. which means
80 pounds OF lime, 100 pounds Of sui
phur and water TO make so gallons OF
the concentrated solution is recon-
mended. A good grade of fresh lime
stone, containing not less than 90 pei
|
the best results. However, hydrated
lime is sometimes used, but it is nee
essary to use a good grade and al
least 20 per cent more of this form
of lime as 1t contains a large amount
Of moisture.
Making Concentrated Lime-SulphuI
on Small Scale.
One of the homemade cooking
plants consisted of a 12-horse-powel
boiler from which steam was con
Quoted into two 50-gallon barrels. Nc
; coils were used in the bottoms of the
barrels, the steam being emitted
, through the open end of straight
pipe extending within few inches Of
, the bottom OF the barrel. Small
patches of the 50-100-50 formula
r amounting to % gallons OF the fin
, ished product, were cooked at a 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 II
! and after II had begun to slake thu
> sulphur was added. The mixture wal
/ stirred thoroughly throughout tn
time Of cooking, which lasted an hour
: II was allowed to settle about twelv'
! hours, and then the clear solution wa
| siphoned off. The sludge or sedlmen
/. was put into a cider press and tn,
r clear solution pressed out, using ten
ounce canvas cloth for filter. In thes,
: experiments commercial ground SUI
3 phur and a good grade of lime wa
3 used,
{ A highly concentrated lime-sulphu
!. solution may be made by using tn,
lime and sulphur at the ratio OF on,
I to two, as is usually recommended
? but with reduced quantities of water
! The formula used in some commercial
l lime-sulphur manufacturing plants 4
I as follows: Fresh stone lime 8
? pounds, commercial ground sulphu
T 160 pounds, and water to make tn
3 finished product measure 80 gallons.
! While there is about 80 per cent II
y volume of sediment after allowing thi
t solution to settle for "a hours, there 4
}, only apout to 10 per cent In volum
Of insoluble materials.
= Relative Costs.
8 Commercial ground sulphur wa
? bought in car lots for about $1.50 pc
100 pounds, and lime at about s
/ cents per barrel. At these prices tn
highly concentrated solution can b
Z made at the following cost per barrel
80 pounds lime at go cents per
r Darrel ......s........ s..s'''' w.
|, 100 pounds sulphur at $3.50 per
hundredweight ............... "a
Labor and fuel. estimated. 49,. q
Total cost per barrel OF so
gallons ................... $3.3