12 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



September last, peas planted in soil mixed with the green rotted immedi- 

 ately and would not germinate, while those in unadulterated soil grew finely 

 and flourished, but died immediately when transplanted into the soil mixed 

 with the green. How far these statements are to be relied on, each one 

 must judge for himself, but it is certainly advisable to avoid as much as pos- 

 sible the use of the poison, by carrying out the other methods, both pre- 

 ventive and remedial, advocated in previous Eeports; for wholesale remedies 

 always have the disadvantage of destroying some friends with the foes, and 

 in this case the true jjarasite and those cannibals which by mastication par- 

 take bodily of their green-covered prey, certainly fall in the general 

 slaughter. But this remedy has now been so extensively^ used with good 

 results and without any apparent harm to the tubers, that full and thorough 

 proof against it will be necessary to cause its abandonment. Properly 

 mixed I have used it without the slightest trace of evil effect on the 

 leaves or tubers, and I know hundreds of others who have done likewise ; 

 80 that with present experience I should not hesitate to recommend its 

 judicious use. What is wanted on this subject, is a long series of thoroughly 

 accurate and reliable experiments. Let our Agricultural colleges make 

 them ! Meanwhile Paris green will be extensively used, especially while 

 the vines are young and most need protection; for after the expense 

 of preparing the land and planting has been incurred, it will not pay to 

 get discouraged and abandon the field to the enemy, when such an 

 efficient remedj^ is at hand. We must take lesson from one of jEsop's 

 instructive fables, and instead of relying on providence to help us out, 

 put our shoulders to the wheel and help ourselves out of the difficulty. 

 The green may be shaken over the vines in various manners, and some per- 

 sons have found an old sleaz}'- sack, such as those used for table salt, to do good 

 service, when attached to the end of a stick. It is most safely applied, how- 

 ever, by aid of a perforated tin box attached to the end of a stick three or four 

 feet long. Such a box (Fig. 1) I induced Messrs. Michel 

 Bros. & Kern to manufacture last summer. It can be 

 made of any desirable size. The least possible dusting 

 suffices, and by taking the handle of the dust-box in the 

 left hand, and then tapping the^box with another stick 

 held in. the right hand, one can walk rapidl}^ along the 

 rows and regulate the amount sifted. The green can- 

 not well be mixed with the flour or plaster except by 

 rhe aid of a mill, and it is for this reason that those who 

 mix in large quantities have the advantage. It is most 

 effectual when mixed with flour, though plaster has the 

 merit of cheapness. I have generally used and have hitherto recom- 

 mended from 12 to 15 parts of flour to one of green, but it has been abun- 

 dantly demonstrated that, if the green be pure, it may be diluted with 25 

 or 30 times its weight and still be effectual. 



Abundantly as this mixture has been used, I have not been able to 

 learn of a single authenticated case of poisoning resulting in death, except 



