226 OPEN AIR GRAPE CULTURE. 



To apply it, use may be made either of a common 

 dredger fixed to the end of a pole, or of a pair of 

 bellows with a contrivance for admitting a small 

 quantity of sulphur into the stream of air. Or it 

 may be mixed with water and the foliage syringed 

 therewith. But the most efficient method is that 

 proposed by Dr. Price, who was the first to suggest 

 pentasulphide of calcium for this purpose. 



This compound is prepared by boiling 30 parts by 

 weight of caustic lime with 80 parts by weight of 

 flowers of sulphur, suspended in a sufficient quantity 

 of water ; heat is applied until the solution has ac- 

 quired a dark red color and the excess of sulphur 

 ceases to dissolve. The clear solution is drawn off, 

 and after being diluted with 20 times its bulk of 

 water, may be applied to the vines by means of a 

 ;sponge, brush or syringe. 



Where flowers of sulphur is used, it should have a 

 ifew drops of ammonia added before it is applied to 

 the foliage, as the sulphurous acid with which it is 

 saturated (derived from its combustion during dis- 

 tillation) is always injurious to leaves and young 

 shoots. 



The rot has rarely troubled our northern vineyards, 

 though it is the great bane of vine culture in Ohio. 

 We are inclined to believe that if vines are planted 

 in soil, dry or well drained and not too rich, and bo 



