PREVENTION OF FUNGUS-GROWTH. 43 



fungus upon the leaves, and destroy it completely. I believe 

 that experiments have proved that the use of sulphur is one 

 of the best remedies that can be devised. In the open vine- 

 yard, it is well known that dusting the foliage with sulphur, 

 or syringing the foliage with diluted sulphur-water, sulphur 

 dissolved by means of quicklime, is a remedy. I think, in 

 various instances, sulphur is one of the very best remedies. 

 In the propagating-bed, when the sand becomes impregnated 

 with the spores of fungus, it is a good plan to dry the sand 

 thoroughly, to bake it, and so exterminate all the seeds of 

 this minute vegetable growth. If we had instruments by 

 which we could examine more carefull}^, we should find that 

 our vegetables and our plants are infested with fungus-growth 

 oftentimes when we suppose they are perfectly healthy. I 

 was surprised this year to notice upon the leaves of a pear- 

 tree, apparently perfectly healthy, the minutest fungus- 

 growth, developing rapidly, and probably causing, very soon 

 after, the blight with which we are all familiar. I would not 

 say " very soon after." I think it may exist a considerable 

 time before we are aware of it. I know that this growth is 

 upon our coniferous plants as well as upon our broad-leaved 

 plants. 



Before I sit down, I again wish to urge the members of 

 this Board to be present at the lecture of Professor Farlow. 

 I have no knowledge of what his theme will be ; but I am 

 sure that it will be a profitable one, because I am very confi- 

 dent he is one of the most promising scientific men of the 

 country, and I think he will, at the present time, rank among 

 the very foremost observers of the world. 



Question. The gentleman speaks of dissolving sulphur 

 with quicklime. It strikes me that must be a very good 

 thing, and I would like to ask him what proportions he uses. 



Mr. Strong. I am sorry that I am not able to state the 

 exact proportions. I usually take a peck of quicklime, with 

 from one to two pounds of sulphur. That will give a very 

 strong solution of sulphur, which is diluted by a considerable 

 quantity of water. I am sorry I am not able to give the pro- 

 portions. I do it by my e3^e, and judge of the strength. It 

 is possible to burn the foliage with a very strong solution of 

 sulphur ; and yet I have never found any difiSculty. It is a 

 very inexpensive remedy. I have used it freely in the open 



