REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 141 

 FOR BLACK ROT ON GRAPES. 



Spray with bordeaux mixture just as tlie buds are swelling, 

 and again immediately after blooming with modified bordeaux 

 mixture. 



LATEST ADVICES ON THE BORDEAUX MIXTURE. 



The combination of bluestone and lime, known as the bor- 

 deaux mixture, is almost indispensable in fruitgrowing and 

 gardening. It is almost a sovereign remedy against injurious 

 fungi, and its use is general throughout the world. The best 

 way to make the preparation is, consequently, a matter of 

 the greatest moment. The division of vegetable pathology 

 of the department of agriculture has just issued a bulletin on 

 these lines which is very timely. It is four years since there 

 was published, in Farmers' Bulletin No. 7, a summary of the 

 more important methods of combating some of the destructive 

 diseases of fruit. During this time many improvements have 

 been made in the work, and for this and other reasons it seems 

 desirable to now bring together, in brief, practical form, our 

 present know^ledge on the subject. The question as to whether 

 it will pay to spray has long since been answered in the affirma- 

 tive, so it is not necessary at this time to enter upon any argu- 

 ment in regard to this phase of the subject. It is, further- 

 more, not necessary to go into details as to the relation of 

 spraying to hygiene ; suffice it to say, that if the work is 

 properly done no danger whatever to health need be appre- 

 hended. 



Superiority of the bordeaux mixture — During the past four 

 years numerous solutions, powders, etc., have been tested, 

 with a view of determining their value as economical, effect- 

 ive, and practical preventives of fungous parasites. While a 

 number of these preparations have given promise of value, 

 none have been found wdiicli fill so many requirements as 

 bordeaux mixture and the ammoniacal solution of copper 

 carbonate. Of the two preparations bordeaux mixture has 

 long been recognized as possessing the most valuable qualities, 

 and it is probably more generally used today than all other 

 fungicides combined. The chief points in its favor are, — 

 ( 1 ) its thorough effectiveness as a fungicide ; ( 2 ) its cheap- 

 ness ; ( 3 ) its safety from a hygienic standpoint ; ( 4 ) its 

 harmlessuess to the sprayed plant ; and ( 5 ) its beneficial 

 efi'ects on plants other than those resulting from the mere 

 prevention of the attack of parasites. 



