684 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
odor and taste, which some persons think indicate ‘‘ strength,” but it detracts from 
the genuine vanilla flavor. 
The Dipterix would not succeed with you, as it requires a strictly tropical climate. 
The term wild vanilla is given to a composite plant of the Southern States, called 
Liatris odoratissima. The dried leaves emit a peculiar odor, also due to the prin- 
ciple coumarine. These leaves are used in scenting tobacco and snuff. This Lia- 
tris is found in swampy woods throughout Florida, which, with the assistance of a 
local botanist, you can procure without much trouble or expense. 
ZANTE CURRANT. 
H. H. M., SAN BERNARDINA. COUNTY, CAL. 
I am anxious to test the soi! here in producing the ‘‘ Zanie Currant,” and desire 
to know the kind of vine that produces this fruit and where plants can be obtained. 
Answer.—The Zante currant is the product of a variety of the foreign grape and 
will undoubtedly grow where other varieties of Vitis vinifera flourish. 
It is merely a seedless form of a black grape; the origin or cause of its being 
seedless has not clearly been explained, except that it results from a deficiency of 
pollen at the blooming period of the flowers. Similar results are not uncommon 
with Black Hamburg and other varieties when grown in glass structures; bunches . 
will sometimes fail to be properly pollenized, so that a few berries may reach full 
size with a more or less percentage of small seedless fruits. 
Statements have been made that Zante currants can be produced only in Greece, 
and that in other countries where it has been tried the plant will produce so many 
full-formed berries as to depreciate its value as a currant crop. 
The plant has long ago been introduced into California and is advertised for sale 
by various nurserymen throughout the State. 
LIME WASH FOR TREES. 
E. D. S., STEUBEN County, N. Y. 
Tam told that the Department recommends the whitewashing of fruit trees as 
a cure for blights, yellows, and other diseases. If this is true may I ask what this 
wash consists of, and how appiied so as not toinjure the tree. Willnottheclogging 
of the pores in the bark of a tree by a coating of lime or other wash do more harm 
than good? 
Some of my apple and pear trees have blighted to some extent, but I have seen it 
stated that washing the bark of trees has no effect, either as a preventive or as a 
cure for blight. Can you inform me on this point? 
Answer.—The reports of this Department have nowhere recommended white- 
washing as a cure for ‘‘ yellows and other plant diseases,” but frequent mention has 
been made of the application on pear and other trees as a preventive of blight, at 
least on the parts covered with the mixture. No harm need be feared in regard to 
clogging pores in the bark, as there are no pores in the bark that can be harmed by 
the application. 
The wash is prepared by placing one-half bushel of lime and 8 pounds of 
powdered sulphur in a vessel of any suitable kind, covering with boiling water to 
properly slake the lime. 
The mixture is applied with a brush, covering ail paris of the tree that can 
readily be reached. The most potent ingredient of the wash is the sulphur. The 
heat of the sun acting upon the wash evolves sulphurous gases which are fatal to 
bacteria and microseopic fungi, which, as has been demonstrated, are active agents 
in blight. It is well known that these microscopic spores are destroyed by sul- 
phurous gases and heat is required to evolve them. Sulphur applications are often 
made for the destruction of mildew on roses and on other plants, but the efficacy 
cf the sulphur depends upon its connection with a certain degree of heat; but it 
must not ignite. The gases of burning sulphur are fatal to the higher order of 
vegetation and are speedily destructive to all plants. 
Those who have used this lime and sulphur wash on their orchard trees are 
pleased with te results and have faith in its efficacy in preventing blight. 
But it is well to keep in view that, while blight will not maintain upon the por- 
tion covered with the wash, the fumes from the sulphur may not be sufficient to 
prevent blight on the extreme points of branches which can not be reached with 
