APPLE SCALE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2106, 2 October 1890, Page 3

APPLE SCALE.

The latest Bulletin of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan contains an interesting account of experiments made to prevent and palliate the attacks of scale (a fungus named Fusicladium dendriticum) . Yarious substances were employed. Sulphur was least effectual, then sodium hypophosphite, then potassium sulphide, with which 25 per cent, only were free from scab ; then copper carbonate and ammonia, which protected over 50 per cent; while beat of all was Ban celeste, by the use of which over 70 per cent, of unaffected fruits were secured. The copper solution is made by mixing 3o» of copper carbonate with one quart of liquid ammonia, and as soon as all action has ceased diluting lo 30gal. Ban celeste (modified) is prepared by dissolving 21b of copper sulphate (blue vitriol) in hot water in one vessel, and bof carbonate of soda in another vessel. Mix, and before using add pint of ammonia, and dilute to 22gal. These solutions may be used with a spray pump ; 25 to 50 per cent, will be added to the value of the crop at a cost of 25 to 80 cents per tree. In thu experiments recorded the trees were first of vll sprayed with London purple, 11b to 200 gal. of water, at the end of May to kill the codlin moth. Two days later the fungicide experiments above narrated were commenced, and the applications were repeated on five separate occasions at intervals of a week or a fortnight.