The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-02-10
home MADE LIME
SULPHUR SOLUTION
Recommendation of Experiment Sta
tiOnl

JlUnI
In view of the fact that many grow.
ers plan to prepare their own lime-sul-
phur solution during the coming season
the following suggestions are offered
in its preparation.
Much experimental work has been
carried on in different sections of the
country to determine the best methods
of procedure in preparing this widely
used insecticide and fua.gicide. The
only necessary ingredients are lime,
sulphur and water. The lime should
be relatively pure, that lis, running
high in calcium-at least 80 per cent
and preferably 95 per cent or more.
If the lime is of lower quality than
this the amounts used should be in
creased to bring up the calcium oxide
content. The lime should be freshly
burnt and unslacked. Hyrdated or
Stacked lime may be used. 1t takes a
third more of the latter to carry the
same amount of calcium. The hydrate
is probably more convenient for stor-
age where it is not to be made into
lime-sulphur at once. but the lump
lime also may be Stacked and preserved
Indefinitely by keeping it covered with
water. Air Stacked lime or lime that
has been exposed some time to the in
fiuences of the atmosphere should never
be used in making ime-sulphur solu-
tion. The use of any finely ground
commercial -four sulphur running
about SO per cent pure is desirable for
the sulphur contents of the formula.
Considerable difference in opinion
exists as to the best formula to use in
making the concentrate. The two most
generally accepted are known as the
l-2-l formula, that is, one pound lime,
two pounds sulphur and one gallon of
water. The other is the l.2-2.4-l, or
the use of IL pounds of lime, "a
pounds of sulphur to one gallon of
water. For home preparation these
two formulae would read as follows:
Formula Fresh unslacked lime, 80
pounds; finely ground sulphur, 100
pounds; water sufficient to make so
gallons at finish.
Formula 2.-Fresh unslacked lime, 60
pounds; finely ground sulphur, l20
pounds; water sufficient to make 80
gallons of at finish.
In formula number one lower test
will be obtained but little better util
ization of material occurs and hence
less sediment. Formula number two
will give higher test but in obtaining
this some OF the materials are sacri-
feed and are lost in the sediment which
forms. Either of these formuae are
good and it might be we'll for growers
to try both to determine which is the
more suitable for their own use.
The equipment necessary for the
preparation of lime.sulphur are: A
cooker, strainer. measuring stick, a
hoe and a.hydometer. The cooking of
the materials may be done in kettle,
a fiat bottomed boiler or with live
steam in barrel. The fiat bottomed
boiler is the one most generally used
for home purposes. Bottom heat is
employed and details of preparation,
using the formula number one is as
follows:
Put about 10 gallons of water in the
cooker, start the fire and add the lime.
As soon as the Stacking is we'll start
ed add the sulphur. either dry or previ-
ously mixed to paste, and mix thor
oughly, adding enough water to main
tain fairly thin paste, but not so
much as to ''drown" the lime. When
the Stacking is finished add water to a
height in the measuring stick some
what above the desired volume-fve or
ten gallons and start the boiling. For
best results some access in volume
should be maintained throughout the
boiling, coming down approximately to
the desired volume $50 gallons) just at
the close. Thorough stirring should be
given throughout, especially during
the earlier stages of the cooking or un-
til the sulphury scum disappears. Be
sure and keep the Jumps broken up.
Boiling should continue until the sui
phur granules are dissolved. Deter
mine this by dipping and slowly pour
ing some of the material under close
observation. Vigorous boiling for a
period of so or 60 minutes will usually
completely dissolve the sulphur. En-
perience under the existing conditions
will soon enable the grower to deter
mine the length of time required in
boiling. :.
The finished product may be lmmeol-
ately poured or strained into barrel
or settling tank or into the spray tank
without waiting for cooling or settling.
Hot lime.sulphur will test one or two
degrees lower than the cold. This
must be taken into consideration II the
material is used hot. i
When properly made. the amount OF
sediment or sludge left in the strainer
is insignificant and may be thrown
away. The mesh for straining lime
sulphur should be 80 to so to the inch.
Made as above with good materials
test of about % degrees Baume will be
obtained. By the use of little more
materials, that is the lime and the sui
phur, a higher test is made possible.
A loss in utilization of materials. how
ever. occurs resulting in more sediment
and an increase in the cost OF produe'
tion.
The sediment is of practically no
value against insects and fungi, hence
il should be eliminated as far as possi-
Bile. In the home preparation the fine
smoke like portion of the sediment is
unobiectiona6le except for the space
that it occupies. In a good product