468 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 July, 1911. 



The sulphate of iron is phiced in a wooden tub or earthenware jar — 

 on no account in a metal vessel. The sulphuric acid is poured over itt, 

 and the water (preferably boiling) then added, stirring until dissolved. 



Special spray pump.s are obtainable in Prance, with glass receptacles 

 and acid proof nozzles, but application with a brush or mop made of rags, 

 gives quite satisfactory results. Care must be taken to insure the solution 

 wetting every portion of the spurs or rods left at pruning, for it is on the 

 wood of the previous sea.son that the majority of the sclerotia of the fungus 

 are to be found. 



The time for this treatment is in very early spring, just before the buds 

 burst into growth. If Black Spot was very prevalent the previous .season, 

 two treatments are recommended, the first one about a month before the 

 commencement of vegetation and the second immediately before it. 



Bordeaux mixture and the numerous other copper-containing sprays so 

 effectual against other fungi, appear to have no effect against Black Spot, at 

 least not against its resting stages. They are never recommended in 

 France; nevertheless, the frequent summer sprayings with such substances 

 seem, to have .some restraining influence on Black Spot, which, since their 

 regular application in order to combat Mildew, seems to be less prevalent 

 in France than it was a good many years back, tefore Mildew and Black 

 Rot were known. This fact was mentioned to me by .several experienced 

 vinegrowers near Montpellier. Copper treatments, however, are never 

 recommended against the disease. The only summer treatment applied is 

 a dry application with the sulphur bellows or sulphuring machine of mix- 

 tures of quicklime and sulphur. In very severe attacks these applications 

 are repeated every fortnight, commencing with i of lime to 5 of sulphur. 

 and increasing the proportion of lim.e to 3 to 5 for the final application.* 

 The preventive acid iron sulphate treatment is looked upon by French 

 authorities as being by far the more effectual of the two. It should be 

 regularly applied in moist situations where the disease is more apt to prove 

 injurious, and to vine varieties susceptible to it. The Black Spot fungus 

 seems to develop itself slowly, and for a long time after infection — moisture 

 alone seems necessary for its evolution. It does not, like Mildew, need 

 moisture and warmth combined — these facts explain why the treatment, 

 which has proved most successful against Black Spot, is so radically dif- 

 ferent from that needed to combat other vine fungi. 



{To he continued .^ 



TOBACCO CULTURE. 



{Continued from -page 394.) 

 T. A. J. Smith, Tobacco Ex-pert. 

 Seed Selection. 

 As tobacco is needed for so many different purposes, and as special 

 types .are required for each, it will readily be .seen that pure seed of 

 every variety used is of great importance so that the characteristics valued 

 in each may be preserved. These can only be maintained by systematic 

 selection and great care in preventing cross-fertilization, except where cross- 

 breeding is intended with a view to improvement in shape, vigour, and 

 quality. 



* Cercelet. i?e«M« de Viticulture, Vol. XXHT, p. 478. 



f When mixinsr the 10 p^r cent, sulphuric acid solution previously mentioned, the acid should be 

 poured into the water in a thin stream to avoid dangerous splashes. 



