—— 
of starch there must be light, and-even in the presence of light it can do little or nothing 
without potash, It is just as if you had a fine factory with all the belts and pulleys - 
and a grand engine in it; but until you got a fire going and steam generated your 
apparatus would be of no use. So in plant life there is no element which has more 
influence in working the whole manure than the element of potash ; and I would there- — 
fore say, on general principles, that potash fertilisers are likely to bring about the best __ 
results. 
F, W. Wirson.—I agree with the professor both practically and theoretically that _ 
ashes is one of the best fertilisers we can get. But just now there never was a business __ 
so entirely ruined as the potash business, owing to German mineral taking the place of 
potash. There is no demand for it, and we should take advantage of the opportunity ba 
thus created. There was never a better opportunity for fruit growers than at present. __ 
I have engaged two of the largest mills around Chatham to supply it at four centsa 
bushel, and some of these are producing three or four large waggon loads per week. I 
would advise you all to try the same plan in your own neighborhoods. 
Mr. Dempsey.—I do not know of any manure better than bone dust, and if you can 3 
dissolve it in sulphuric acid it is all the better, I applied it in that way very liberally, ; 
and the result was that the next year I had one of the finest crops of Flemish Beauty I 
ever had in my life. 
Prof. Panron.—You should add a little super-phosphate. | 
MILDEW AND OTHER FUNGI. 
Q.—lIs the Industry gooseberry free from mildew ? 
The SecreTary.— With me it has been ; with the President it has not. 
Mr. Beatt.—There is only one kind that is worse with me. 
Q.—Please inform us what causes mildew on grapes, and what will cure the disease 
also what is the cause of the grape rot and what is the preventive ? 
The SecreTary.—The mildew referred to and which is most common in Ontario is 
a fungus—really a plant. I cannot explain its causes except to say that it is propagated 
as other plants are, by very minute spores, which can only be seen with the help of a 
microscope. As to the cause of the grape rot, it is also similar, a fungus. I believe 
that a copper sulphate is one of the best preventives for this, or the Bordeaux mixture, 
applied with a whisk broom in the absence of a proper spraying apparatus. 
Q.—Is the statement made that mildew only attacks plants already affected by 
disease ? . 
Prof. Panron.—I do not think the statement is made that they attack no other, but 
there is a tendency to attack that type more than any other class, just the same as a 
weakly person is more subject to disease such as typhoid fever than a person who is per- 
fectly healthy. That disease is caused by germs, as many diseases of a more or less 
epidemic nature are now admitted to be. So with fungi, weakness in the vigor of the 
plant renders it peculiarly liable to attack. I have no doubt it may attack strong plants 
from time to time, but the tendency is to attack those weakened by disease. All these 
fungus diseases are caused by germs or spores getting into the plant structure in some 
way. If the plant is healthy and vigorous it very often goes no further, but if it is 
weakly it passes right on to its juices and begins to grow. There would therefore be a 
greater tendency in mildew to attack weakly piants than more vigorous ones. 
Q.—Is the statement true of fungi that they are mainly nitrogenous in substance ? 
Prof. Panton.—I have never noticed that statement so much as this, that they live 
on nitrogenous substances—for parasites live on food already prepared. Fungi cannot © 
take up the carbonic acid of the atmosphere and give off the carbon and oxygen; that is 
the function of the green coloring matter, to elaborate out of it starch ultimately, and 
the fungi cannot do it. They are parasitic and must be put on the place where the food 
