The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-04-13

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tailed instructions for the use of var.
ious sprays in controlling the San Jose
scale are given in new publication Of
the u S. Department of Agriculture,
Farmers Bulletin $50, The San Jose
Scale and Its Control" In the alb
sence of proper treatment, this wide
spread pest will bring about the death
of most fruit trees and of many orna-
mental and shade trees. Its discovery,
therefore, should be followed by
prompt measures of control, whether
it be found in commercial orchards or
in private grounds. Private individuals,
however, will scarcely feel disposed to
equip with such expensive apparatus
as orchardists may find profitable. The
bulletin, therefore, describes washes
and spraying apparatus suitable for
varying conditions
Where only few plants are infest-
ed, it is probably better for the own
er to use some of the prepared wash
es. In fact many commercial orchard
lists prefer to use these in preference
to making them at home. These con-
sist of compounds of sulphur In
highly concentrated condition, or pow
ders, to which it is only necessary to
add sufficient quantity of water The
powders which have but recently ap-
peared on the market are much more
convenient to handle and store than
the commercial lime-sulphur concen-
trates. The latter, however, are still
largely used by orchardists who do not
care to incur the expense of construct
ing the cooking plant to make their
own lime-sulphur wa snes.
Prepared in one way or another,
some form of lime.sulphur wash is the
most common agent fOr controlling this
scale. A formula much in use some
years ago was:
Stone lime, 20 pounds.
Sulphur (flour or flowers) Is pounds
Water to make, so gallons.
In preparing this wash, about one
third of the total quantity of water re-
quired is heated in cooking barrel or
vessel; the lime then added, and the
sulphur Immediately afterwards. The
sulphur should previously, however,
have been made into thick paste
with water. After the lime has slaked
about another third of the water should
be added and the cooking continued
for an hour, when the rest Of the water
is put in. During the time of cooking,
Stirring is necessary If he wash is
cooked in kettles. 1t must also be
strained as it is run into the spray
tank.
Comparatively few fruit growers
now employ this method, because this
wash must be applied Immediately af-
ter it is cooked-otherwise there Is
capitalization of the sulphur and har-
dening of the sediment upon cooling.
The cooking is also inconvenient. 1t
Is for these reasons that manufactur-
ers put on the market concentrated
solutions of lime.sulphnr already men,
toned, and which when used at proper
strength are quite as satisfactory as
the old-time formula. When lime-sul-
phur concentrates are made at home,
the so-called 50-100-50 formula is fire.
quently used This Is composed of SO
pounds of lime, 100 pounds of sulphur
and water to make so gallons-the re-
spective ingredients being boiled to-
gether for from SO minutes to an hour,
while the mixture Is vigorously stirred
either by hand or by a mechanical agi-
tator. As soon as the cooking is over,
the solution should be drawn off and
run through 30-mesh strainer into
barrels, the agitation being continued
all this time In order to effect an
| equal distribution of the sludge. When
properly stirred this solution can be
kept for year or more before being
! used, Such concentrates vary con
siderably in strength, and it is import
ant that they he tested with a hydrom
eter The new bulletin contains ta
BILE giving the quantities of lime-sul
phur concentrates of various strengths
necessary to make so gallons of the
spray solution. The number ranges
from IL gallons for a summer appli
cation with strong concentrate, tc
liz gallons for a winter application
with weaker one.
In controlling the scale, 1t Is always
advisable to spray the trees while II
a dormant condition, for at this time
the wash may be used much stronger
than would be safe to use on foliage
Spraying may be done In the fall, II
mild climates during the winter, o.
preferably in early spring before thu
buds push out. For small plants. low
trees. ornamental hedges, ETC., a buck