133 APPENDIX. 



water pail and add only a small amount of water at first, say a 

 quart or three pints. When the lime begins to crack and crumble 

 and the water to disappear add another quart or more, exercising 

 care that the lime at no time gets too dr3^ Towards the last con- 

 siderable water will be needed, but if added slowly a perfectly 

 smooth paste will be obtained if the lime, is of good quality. For 

 this purpose what is sometimes known as ''double strength" white 

 lime is best. When the lime is slacked add enough water to bring 

 it up to 25 gallons. When the copper sulphate is entirely dissolved 

 and the lime is cool stir the milk of lime and pour it and the copper 

 solution slowly together into a barrel holding 50 gallons. The 

 mixture should then be thoroughly stirred. This is then "ordin- 

 ary Bordeaux" mixture. Thick Bordeaux is just twice as strong, 

 i. e. , has one-half as much water and is used for spraying dormant 

 plants. It is too strong for the foliage of most plants. Thin Bor- 

 deaux mixture has twice as much water as "ordinary" Bordeaux 

 mixture. It is used for the tender foliage of peach and plum trees. 



To determine if the Bordeaux mixture is safe to use on tender 

 foliage, two simple tests may be used. First, insert the tip of a 

 penknife for at least one minute, when if metallic copper forms on 

 it, i. e., the tip is the color of copper, more lime should be added. 

 If on the other hand the steel remains unchanged it is safe to con- 

 clude the mixture is all right. 



Another test is to pour some of the mixture into a shallow 

 dish ; then blow into it for at least one-half minute, when, if prop- 

 erly made, a thin oil-like scum will form on the surface. 



CRANBERRIES. 



Highbush Cranberry.— The Highbush Cranberry (V^ihernum 

 opuliis) is far removed (botanically) from the common ci-anberrj^ of 

 commerce. It is a shrub growing six feet high and has very orna- 

 mental flower clusters, these are followed by oblong yellow or red 

 fruit, which has one rather large flat seed in its center. A form of 

 it in which all the flowers are sterile is the common Snowball of 

 the gardens. The Wild Black Haw (T'. pmnifoHum) and the 

 Sheepberry {V. lentago) are also closely related to it. 



The fruit is of a pleasant acid flavor and esteemed for sauces. 

 It is common in thickets and moist land in the northern states and 

 is often gathered, although it is seldom offered in the markets in 

 any considerable quantities. There is, however, a good market for 

 it whenever it is offered for sale. 



On moist, heavy soil it will fruit abundantly, and it could often 

 be planted to advantage. For this purpose plants may be taken 

 from the woods, or propagated especially for this purpose. They 

 should be set about four feet apart in rows five feet apart. 



