136 TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY REPORT. 
known it was thought by some that this fungicide might be even 
more effective than potassium sulphide. Lysol and formalin also 
came into prominence as fungicides about this time. Accordingly, 
it was deemed advisable to make a series of experiments to de- 
termine the relative merits of these four fungicides for the control 
of gooseberry mildew. The experiments were continued through 
three years, 1897-1899. Each year potassium sulphide gave the 
best results. Lysol and formalin also made a fair showing, but bor- 
deaux proved almost valueless. In only one series of tests did the 
bushes sprayed with bordeaux show less mildew than untreated ~ 
bushes. 
Upon the results of these experiments the Station bases the fol- 
lowing recommendations for the treatment of gooseberry mildew :*4 
“Spraying should begin early in spring after the buds break and 
before the first leaves unfold, using one ounce of potassium sulphide 
for two gallons of water. This treatment is repeated at intervals 
of from seven to ten days, depending on the amount of rain that 
comes to wash off the applications.” 
In Bulletin 167% there is given an account of a fungus root-rot 
of gooseberry bushes observed at Marlboro in 1899. 
GRAPE. 
Although the grape is one of the important fruit crops of the 
State, the Station has done very little with grape diseases. One 
reason for this is that the Cornell Experiment Station made investi- 
gations*® on the subject in 1894. Another reason is that experi- 
ments made by the United States Department of Agriculture had 
shown that the principal grape diseases, black rot and downy mil- 
dew, may be controlled by spraying with bordeaux mixture. Yet 
a third reason is that the Station finds it impossible to do all that 
needs doing. 
The experience of the Station on the spraying of grapes with 
bordeaux mixture for black rot and mildew has been entirely satis- 
factory. Most grape growers, too, have had fairly good results 
from spraying. However, in 1905 and 1906, when black rot was 
exceedingly destructive in certain localities, some growers found 
it impossible to control the disease. ‘ Accordingly, interest in black 
* Bul. 170:408 (1809) ; same in Rpt. 18:427. 
© Bul. 167:295 (1899) ; same in Rpt. 18:202. 
* Cornell Sta. Bul. 76 (1894). 
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