Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-04-18

reach most Of the troubles comfortable
by dormant-tree sprays. Other things
being equal, the insecticide having the
greatest range of usefulness should be
employed. OF the several dormant
tree sprays, the standard lime-sulphur
solution Is the one most generally used
against the San Jose scale, and it is
equally effective against several other
insects which may cOeXist on the trees.
1t Is an excellent fungicide, and, aside
from the inconvenience experienced in
Its preparation and it's disagreeable
character, 1t furnishes an ideal spray
for dormant trees. Abundant expert
ence has shown 1t to be an effective
remedy In the control Of the San Jose
scale under all conditions, and for most
other diaspine scales, as the cherry
scale. the European fruit scale, and
reasonably so against the Oyster-shell
scale, and the scurfy scale. Lecanium
scales, such as the terrapin scale and
the brown apricot scale, are more eff
fectively controlled by mineral-oil
sprays. The thorough treatment
sulphur solution will keep well under
control the more important scale-in-
sect pests Of the orchard.
There are certain other troubles con-
trolled by the dormant-tree sprayings
with sulphur solution. 1t has been
found effective In destroying eggs Of
the pear-tree psylla and has long been
nown as effective against the pear
leaf blister mite. The red spider and
eggs of the clover mite and other
mites are probably also destroyed. In
California, If applied in late spring, the
Iime-sulphur solution has been found
effective In destroying the peach twig
borer. Entomologists are not agreed
as to the benefit from lime-sulphur
spraying In the destruction of eggs of
apple aphids, and other plant lice, but
its value In this connection is perhaps
not important. In practice, therefore,
the plan should be to make one thor
ough application Of llme-sulphur sOlu-
lion to orchards each spring as a gen
erai treatment for the control not only
of the San Jose scale but of many
other scale insects and other pests.
: Homemade Concentrates.
Several years ago the cooked lime
sulphur wash was used largely for the
control of the San Jose scale but has
nov been generally superseded by the
commercial or homemade concentrates.
Since inquiry occasionally is received
ss to its preparation, the formula and
method Of making are given below:
Stone lime, pounds .........,........20 or 2
eulphur commercial ground,
pounds ........................... I'D or IA
Water to make ...................-,.50 or D
Heat In cooking barrel or vessel
about one-third Of the total quantity
OF water required. When the water
IS hot, add all the lime and at once
add all the sulphur, which previously
should have been made into a thick
paste with water. After the lime has
slaked about another third of the
water, preferably hot. should be add
ed and the cooking should be con-
tinued for one hour. when the final dilu-
tion may be made, using either hot or
cold water, as Is most convenient. The
boiling due to the shaking of the lime
thoroughly mixes the ingredients at
the start, but subsequent stirring is
necessary II the wash is cooked by d.
rect heat in kettles. II cooked by
steam, no stirring will be necessary.
After the wash has been prepared it
must be well strained as it is being
run into the spray tank. It may be
cooked In large kettles, or preferably
by steam In barrels or tanks. This
wash should be applied promptly after
preparation, since, as made by this
formula, there is capitalization of the
sulphur compounds and consequent
hardening Of the sediment upon cool
Ing.
Commercial Concentrates.
For a number Of years manufac-
turers have had on the market concen-
trated solutions Of lime-sulphur which
have only TO be diluted with water for
use. These commercial preparations,
il used at proper strength, have proved
to be entirely satisfactory. Although
somewhat more expensive than washes
made according to the old formula,
many commercial orchardists have
adopted the commercial concentrates
In preference to making the wash at