The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-07-14
Attentlon-Potato Growers of Somer.
set

A bulletin that will be of interest
TO potato growers in Somerset county
has just been issued by the University
of Maine Agricultural Extension Ser
vice. Its title is "A. B. of Potato
Spraying" The general text of the
bulletin is as follows:
The active principle in any spray
that is effective against potato blight
Is the copper. Copper snlphate or
blue vitriol as ii is put on the market
for spraying purposes, is all of the
same strength. Do not be led into
thinking that copper sulphate that is
lighter in color or grayish Is of in
ferior quality. 1t has merely lost a
little of its water SO by weight you
actually get more copper for your
money when it is gray.
Lime. the other ingredient in Dor
deaux mixture, is sold for spraying
purposes in different forms. Quick
or lump lime is the best. Although
IL is harder to handle, 1t will give a
finer precipitate, therefore stay in
suspension better than hydrated lime
Hydrated lime is second choice and can
be used with good results, but by
weight II requires one-third more than
of lump lime. Air slaked or carbon
ated lime cannot be used in making
bordeaux
The great fungicidal value of bor-
deaux mixture is due to the gelatinous
precipitate which is formed when you
combine a solution of copper sulphate
with water slaked lime. In order
that the best precnitate may be had,
the two above named solutions must
be combined in the proper proper
tions. Mixtures made improperly
will curdle and the precipitate will
settle If allowed to stand for short
time. The ideal mixture is one in
which the gelatinous preeipitate will
not settle to very great extent even
after standing undisturbed for a few
hours.
There is no prepared spray put on
the market that will control potato
blight as we'll as freshly and properly
made bordeaux mixture. Thorough.
conclusive and fair tests have been
made in Maine as well as in other po-
tato growing states, and this has al
ways proven the case. You are en-
titled to the best. and ii costs less.
Therefore, use bordeaux.
HOW TO MAKE BORDEAUX
1t is very important in the making
of bordeaux that the two solutions
should be diluted and mixed in the
proper proportions. Always remem-
Der that the value of the mixture, as
a spray, depends upon the kind of a
precipitate that is formed.
II you wish to test your method of
pour some of the spray dilu-
ton out into a glass fruit jar and let
it set for an hour. If made properly
the gelatinous precititate should settle
but very little. At the end of one
hour the preciate should occupy over
90 per cent of the volume of the so
luton. In poorly made mixtures the
precipitate will settle down to about
10 per cent of the volume of the So
luton in the same length of time. II
takes just as much time. material and
money 10 make a poor solution as it
does good one. Which are you
going to make?
The methods given below have been
thoroughly r,eu anu iounu 10 sise
very Satisfactory results. "hiie
there are othef ways OF gellihg sooo
mixtures, IL Is oeleVed that some one
OF the loiloWlhB llie'hous WIZ De
FOUND practlcai on the average larih'
Inc chlei thlhg 10 remember ~ no
matter now or III what ofaef you wish
10 mix tne soinliohs' never NIX your
TWO STOCK SOLUTIONS Always uilo'e
one, or petter, polh oi the SOLUTIONS
before MIXING never NIX your so-
lutions uhtl you are READY 10 spray,
Metaod /. for those VINO nave heeo
Tor large qoanilties Oh bordeaux NIX
ture' IL Is the pest plan TO MAKE stoch
solutions. plssoiVe oV pouhus VI
copper suiphate tpiue Vitrloi) py sus
penang IL III SACK from the top Vi
barrel containing Oh eailohs Oh wat
er. STAKE % POUNDS Oh illhe III an
other barrel theh add water 10 MAKE
oo gaiions, heSe Two stoeA soiu-
tlons VIII Keep indllhlely' water
lost Dy evaporation may De replaceo
NOW one galioh OF copper solpha'e
solution contains one pound Oh cop
ntai al n u