66 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fall upon it will be destroyed, and thus the plant will be kept healthy. 

 This is what we should attempt to do when spraying with fungicides, and 

 the nearer we approach it the greater will be our success in keeping off 

 diseases from our plants. 



From the fact that the so-called powdery mildews of the grape, goose- 

 berry, rose, etc., live upon the surface of the plants, they are quite easily 

 destroyed at any time; but for the most part little can be done after the 

 fungi have affected a lodgment except to prevent further spread of the 

 disease. 



The work with fungicides, by the experiment stations, has been along 

 three principal lines: (1) What fungicides are most efficient, and in 

 what strength should they be used? (2) When should they be applied? 

 (8) For what diseases are they specifics? 



As has been stated, Bordeaux mixture is now regarded as one of the 

 best, not only as being one of the most efficient but because it does not 

 burn the foliage, permits the addition of Paris green, thus forming a 

 combined insecticide and fungicide, and is withal a cheap remedy. 



PREPARATION OF FUNGICIDES. 



The formula and method of preparation have many times been given, 

 but it should be noted that the strength has been considerably reduced, as 

 while some prefer to use so much as four pounds of copper sulphate and 

 three pounds of lime, to thirty-two gallons of water, particularly for the 

 first application, half that strength (four pounds of copper sulphate, 

 three pounds of lime, and sixty-four gallons of water) will give fully as 

 good results, particularly after the first application. 



For use late in the season when there is danger of the lime coating the 

 fruit, modified eau celesta (2 pounds of copper sulphate, 2 pounds of soda 

 carbonate, 1 quart strong ammonia water, and 32 gallons of water); or 

 ammoniacal solution of copper carbonate ( 3 ounces copper carbonate. 

 3 pints strong ammonia water, and 32 gallons of water) are preferable, 

 but one application is all that will be desirable. 



To secure the best results, the application should be made early in the 

 season, as one spraying before the leaves appear is worth a half dozen 

 after the fruit is half grown. For most fruits, an application early in the 

 spring, before the buds swell (it way be done in the fall if there is more 

 time), is desirable. The stems and branches are at that time more or less 

 covered with the spores, and, as the foliage is off, they can be readily 

 reached, and a small amount of material will suffice to destroy them. If 

 the disease is likely to become troublesome, it is a good plan to make a 

 second application just before the fruit buds open, and to repeat it within 

 a week after the blossoms fall, although these last two may be combined 

 in one application, to be made as soon as the trees are out of bloom. As 

 a rule not more than five applications need be made to ward off the disease 

 (the last ones at intervals of two or three weeks), and in favorable seasons 

 two or three are all that will be profitable with most crops, while very 

 marked effects can be produced with one. 



WHAT FUNGICIDES WILL DO. 



In a general way we may say that by the thorough use of fungicides, 

 nearly all the diseases of our fruits may be kept in check. Recent exper- 



