IX. SPRAYING IN 1897 TO PREVENT GOOSE- 

 BERRY MILDEW.^ 



C. p. CLOSE. 



SUMMARY. 



For ten years this Station has advoca'ted potassium sulphide 

 as the best remedy for gooseberry mildew. 



In the season of 1897 potassium sulphide, Bordeaux mixture, 

 lysol and formalin were tested side by side. 



The plantation was divided into six sections. In two of these 

 the spraying was begun very early, just as the buds were break- 

 ing; in two others eleven days latter; and in the remaining two 

 sections twelve days after the preceding two sections. 



The first mildew appeared May 26. By June 7 portions of the 

 plantation were badly mildewed. At this date the lysol and 

 formalin seemed to have done no good. Bordeaux mixture was 

 more effective, but not so good as potassium sulphide where the 

 treatments were begun very early and medium early. 



All of the fruit was picked July 6 and 7 so as to market it 

 green. Bushes sprayed very early with potassium sulphide at 

 the rate of 1 oz. to 3 gals, of water gave only 5 per cent of mil- 

 dewed fruit; those sprayed very early with it at the rate of 1 oz. 

 to 2 gals, of water gave 6.6 per cent. Bushes sprayed very early 

 with lysol, 1 oz. to 1 gal. of water, gave 24.5 per cent and those 

 sprayed very early with Bordeaux mixture gave 37.4 per cent 

 of mildewed fruit, while the untreated bushels gave 57.7 per cent 

 to 78.7 per cent. 



The foliage was not injured by any of the fungicides. 



At 18 cents per pound for potassium sulphide, the cost of the 

 solution which gave the best results is about one-fifth of one 

 cent per bush for the seven sprayings. 



•Reprint of BuUetin No. 133. 



