Inclement Weather, Diseases, Etc. 297 



first supposed that sublimated sulphur, or flower of sul- 

 phur, ought to be exclusively used for this opera- 

 tion, but M. Laforgue has discovered that common 

 sulphur, well ground, produced the same effects with 

 the same volume ; of course, as the latter is much 

 cheaper, it should be preferred. 



It has also recently been recommended that certain 

 foreign matters be mixed with the sulphur, such as 

 plaster of Paris and other substances, and this with a 

 view of lessening the expense. But the results ob- 

 tained by these means are not sufficiently conclusive for 

 us to recommend them. 



. [Mr. John E. Mottier, a distinguished and successful vine- 

 dresser, for many years resident of the neighborhood of Cin- 

 cinnati, used air-slaked lime in combination with sulphur. 

 To a portion of his vines he applied the lime alone, and, as 

 he thought, with equally good effect. 



Some persons have claimed that even the fine dust from the 

 roads would be productive of the same results in checking the 

 mildew ; but, unfortunately, the disease has been observed in 

 some situations where the grape-vines are constantly covered 

 with this material.] 



When sulphur began to be employed, means were 

 sought for sprinkling it as quickly and as economically 

 as possible. With this object, two kinds of instru- 

 ments have been employed. First bellows, whereof 

 M. Gontier, a grower of early produce at Montrouge, 

 near Paris, was the first to contrive one for that pur- 

 pose. This bellows was afterward improved by M. 

 Gaffe, of Fontainebleau, following the suggestions of 

 the growers of Thomery. 



We subjoin a description of this instrument. It consists 



