The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-16

plleu 10 Tue lnSeCLS.
The most approved method of apply.
ing kerosene is by means of special
pump designed to mix kerosene and
water. This is the most agreeable and
by all means the best method of apply.
ing kerosene.
Sprays for Funeleides.
The control Of fungous diseases Is
accomplished by the use Of some
form Of copper salts, usually copper
sulphate or copper carbonate,
The former known as bluestone.
blue vitriol, etc., Is generally recog-
nized as more efficient than the latter.
When purchased in large quantities it
is also cheaper.
Copper sulphate may be used on dor
mant plants when dissolved In water
at the rate of two pounds to SO gallons
of water, but this solution must not be
used on growing plants.
Copper sulphate in combination with
fresh lime forms the standard and
well-known fungicide.
Bordeaux Mixture.
Various formulas are quoted, but the
following is accepted as safe and re-
liable:
Copper sulphate ......... Lbs.
Fresh lime .............. Lbs.
Water ..................5O Gals.
In general terms, the copper sui
phate should be dissolved in one.half
of the water, the lime slaked in the
remainder, and the two solutions
poured together. This results in q
chemical action giving rise to new
substance preserving the fungicidal
properties of the copper sulphate, and
If properly made will not injure TO-
liage.
Making Bordeaux Mixture.
Have on hand three barrels and two
pals (wood or fiber).
twenty-five gallons of water in each
of two Of the barrels.
Dissolve five pounds of copper sui
plate in one barrel by suspending in
a coarse burlap as near the surface Of
the water as possible; in this way it
will dissolve in few minutes, while
If allowed to settle to the bottom it
would require several hours or even
days to dissolve.
Place the lime in pail and Stake by
adding water slowly until a paste is
formed. (The lime for bordeaux mix
ture should be slaked exactly as for
building purposes.)
Pour this lime paste into the Sec
ond barrel and stir thoroughly.
Now pour into the third (empty)
barrel first pailful Of the copper
sulphate solution, then painful of lime
water, or better, let two persons work
at the job, pouring together.
The resultant mixture should be Of
an intense blue color. II any tinge Of
green appears it is not good bordeaux
mixture.
It is always advisable to test every
barrel of the mixture before using, to
detect the presence of any free or un-
combined copper which might injure
foliage.
Test No. dip bright, clean steel
knife blade into the prepared bordeaux
mixture; if any, even the slightest,
deposit of copper appears on the blade
after few moments exposure to the
air it Is an indication that more lime
is needed.
The knife should be thoroughly
whetted before using for second test.
Test No. 2-Ferrocyanide Of potas.
sium may be purchased at any drug
store.
Place a small quantity Il ounce) in
a bottle and add water slowly until
nearly all of the yellow crystals are
dissolved. Stir the bordeaux thorough
ly and dip out a few ounces In q
saucer. Add few drops Of the fer
rocyanide solution; II any brown dis
coloration appears 1t is an indication
that more lime is needed. This is q
delicate and reliable test.
The ferrocyanide is violent poison
and should be labeled as such.