244 THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



gallons more of water into the tub containing the sulphate of copper, stirring as before. 

 This process is repeated until all of the sulphate of copper is dissolved, it being found 

 that 8 or 10 gallons of water are necessary for this purpose, providing crystals are used 

 and the water is cold. Powdered sulphate of copper requires much less labour and 

 water to dissolve. Slake the lime in a tub. After slaking, add enough water to make a 

 rather thin whitewash; then pour this slowly into the tub containing the copper solution. 

 Strain the whitewash through a coarse sack, having the latter stretched over the head of 

 the tub. The straining removes all the small pieces of lime, &c., which have a tendency 

 to clog the nozzle. After pouring in all the whitewash, add the remainder of the water, 

 making 22 gallons ; then, thoroughly stirred, it is ready for use." 



The Bordeaux Mixture represents a 2| per cent, solution of sulphate of copper, 

 perfectly safe to use as a spray to trees with not unusually hairy leaves and downy 

 tender shoots. Stronger solutions are apt to seriously injure the foliage and disfigure 

 fruit, whilst solutions below 2 per cent, are found of little effect on fungi of the greatest 

 malignity. In all sprayings with sulphate of copper preparations it is safer to commence 

 with a solution a little too weak than too strong, always remembering that fungi are the 

 most easily vanquished when young, and that foliage and fruits are most susceptible to 

 parasitic diseases and to injury by a fungicide or insecticide whilst tender. Doses can 

 be augmented as the growths harden and the fungi are harder to kill, but the essential 

 point is to apply the fungicide at such a strength as destroys the fungus, whatever it 

 may be, without injury to the foliage or fruit. Continental Bordeaux Mixture consists 

 of 6 parts of sulphate of copper, 6 parts of quicklime, and 100 parts of water. That is 

 a 6 per cent, solution of sulphate of copper, and not safe to use, except as a wash, 

 after the fruit is gathered or the foliage mature, for destroying fungoid germs. Solu- 

 tions, however, may be made of any strength; only observe that the quantity of sulphate 

 of copper used represents the rate per cent. A gallon of water weighs 10 pounds : 

 10 gallons = 100 pounds ; therefore 1 pound of sulphate of copper (with 1 pound of 

 quicklime) dissolved, mixed, and added to 10 gallons of water forms a 1 per cent, solution. 



A simple solution of sulphate of copper, 1 pound to 25 gallons of water, is advised 

 only for spraying trees whilst dormant, or in spring before the buds swell, to destroy 

 dormant spores. Ammoniacal carbonate of copper solution is economical, and not likely 

 to injure the foliage. Eau Celeste, modified formula, is best suited to a moist climate 

 and season. Bordeaux Mixture is commended for its never-failing properties of arresting 

 fungoid growths. Treatment with any is advised to commence as soon as the petals 



