45 



The copper sulphate (98 per cent, purity) and the sodium 

 carbonate should be dissolved in separate wooden vessels, 

 and mixed together when completely dissolved.* One 

 spraying, just before the buds open, is usually sufficient, but 

 a second spraying a few days later gives additional assurance 

 of success. Great care should be exercised to see that the 

 buds are completely coated with a film of the mixture. Before 

 spraying, all dead twigs and any obviously diseased shoots 

 should be cut away. 



2. Bordeaux Mixture. Bordeaux gives more trouble to pre- 

 pare than Burgundy mixture, but if preferred the following 

 proportions are recommended : 



Copper Sulphate 13 oz. 



Best Quicklime 13 oz. 



Water 10 gallons. 



The copper sulphate should be dissolved in water at the rate 

 of about 13 oz. to 1 gallon. This should be done in a wooden 

 receptacle. The lime should be slaked to a fine powder with 

 a little water in another receptacle. Water should be added 

 gradually to make a " milk " and then diluted to the amount 

 required (9 gallons), stirring well throughout. Finally, the 

 copper sulphate should be poured into the diluted milk of lime 

 and stirred thoroughly for 5 minutes. The mixture should be 

 used within 24 hours and, preferably, as soon as made. 



AMERICAN GOOSEBERRY MILDEW. 



(Sphaerotheca mors-uvae, Berk.) 



The serious disease known as American Gooseberry Mildew 

 was introduced into Europe in 1900, and has since spread, 

 throughout the Continent. This mildew, which is caused by 

 the fungus Sphaerotheca mors-uvae, has greatly interfered with 

 gooseberry growing, and in some countries it has rendered the 

 cultivation of this fruit quite unprofitable. Few diseases have 

 been more carefully investigated in this country, and, thougn 

 much remains to be learned, it is now possible very largely to 

 control its ravages. 



Description of the Disease. There are two well-marked 

 stages in the life of the mildew fungus which it is important 

 to distinguish, namely, a white and a brown stage. The white 

 stage always, comes first, but it is often of short duration and 

 passes into the brown stage so rapidly that it is the latter that 

 sometimes first attracts attention. 



* For fuller details regarding the methode of preparing Burgundy or 

 Bordeaux mixtures see Leaflet No. 23 (Potato Disease " Blight " : and 

 its Prevention), obtainable from the Ministry and also to be included in 

 Sectional Volume No. 8. 



