44 THE ORCHAED AND FKUIT GARDEK. 



October, slush from the manure reserve laid on, and 

 covered again with the earth. A good pruning should 

 accompany this treatment, and it will often renew the 

 constitution of the. tree, and restore the fruit in size 

 and clearness of skin. 



Mildew is a troublesome and injurious fungous 

 growth, especially attacking peaches, nectarines, apricots, 

 and vines. It is said to be generated in the earth, the 

 result of too much moisture at the roots, and thence 

 to communicate itself generally over the tree, or over 

 a portion of it, by means of myriads of minute seeds 

 which are wafted through the air. It is worst in damp, 

 muggy seasons, and I think draught developes it. It 

 acts upon the tree by spreading over it, tilling up the 

 pores, and impeding respiration. There are several 

 kinds which infest the rose tree. That which attacks 

 stone fruit is the Oidium eryseplioides, and that of the 

 vine, Oidium TucJceri, which will cover the fruit so as to 

 render it useless. 



It may be discouraged at the root of the tree by 

 draining and by digging in lime, and the tree itself 

 should have a due mixture of warmth and moisture ; but 

 sulphur is the popular and invariably used remedy. 

 With vines especially the sulphur is often used exces- 

 sively, by dusting it over leaves and fruit ; machines are 

 made, at a cost of two or three shillings each, for diffusing 

 it equally ; but the remedy of covering grapes with 

 sulphur is so nearly as bad as the disease, that it is best 

 to use all possible caution for keeping it off, by protect- 

 ing the roots from stagnant damp, by constantly regu- 

 lating the temperature of the house, by guarding against 

 draught, a cold damp, or a hot dry heat. 



Some administer the sulphur in fumes by mixing it 

 with whitewash, and washing the hot-water pipes, or, 

 if flues are used, by washing with it the sides farthest 

 from the stove ; or sulphur may be placed on a hot- water 

 plate and the water kept boiling below with a lamp. A 

 kind of paint for washing over the stems and branches 

 may be made by mixing 1 Ib. of soft soap and 1 Ib. 

 of sulphur into a paste with warm water, and a small 



