FIGHTING THE MIDSUMMER PESTS 125 



rampantly and soon exceeded its strength which had been ex- 

 hausted by the long drought. The inevitable mildew, black rot, 

 rust, and other fungous growths appeared. For these Bordeaux 

 mixture, used in the proportion of one gallon to sixty gallons of 

 water, is the standard remedy. This spraying must be done 

 when the sun is off the plants. 



In all such garden warfare, choose either the early morning 

 hours before the sun is up, or the period after sunset and into the 

 long twilight, which is not so comfortable and convenient a time 

 as early morning but is much better for the plants. When the 

 fungus appears it is too late to save the tree or shrub on which 

 it shows, but if immediate steps are taken and the spray is used 

 on all the other members of the family it is possible to save nine- 

 tenths of them. When the Poplars showed rust last Summer 

 spraying was begun at once, repeated in four weeks and a third 

 time four weeks later. Only two trees were lost out of a very 

 large number treated. 



When the dry spells of the late Spring are succeeded by days 

 of Summer heat and the nights are still cool, the Rambler Roses 

 and Wichuraiana hybrids all show mildew. This Spring they 

 have been very badly infected. Flowers of sulphur is the stand- 

 ard remedy used with a dry duster early in the morning when the 

 dew is on the vines. Often, however, this does not have the 

 desired effect and we must resort to the second strength Bordeaux 

 mixture. Spray with it as soon as possible after the blooming 

 season is over. Wait a few weeks and spray a second time; if 

 necessary, do it again after four more weeks have passed. Should 

 these remedies fail there is nothing to do but to cut off the in- 

 fected canes and burn them. This is a good thing to do in the 

 beginning if the vines are very badly infected. If not, take off 

 only the weak stock. This pruning will enable the plants to gain 

 their Summer's growth and make the wood on which the next 

 year's blooms will come. If the cutting is very severe the blos- 

 soms will not be so abundant. For this reason the other remedies 

 may be used first. 



With all other types of Roses there are little disease and few 

 insects that need to be fought. An occasional bath of soapy 



