Origin of the Bordeaux Mixture. 25 



as many different combinations of old ones. Some of these 

 proved to be fairly efficient, but the ideal remedy had by no means 

 been discovered. It was not until the fall of 1885 that there ap- 

 peared unmistakable evidence, based upon experiments, that a 

 substance had been found which promised to be a specific against 

 the grape mildew, and perhaps also against many other fungous 

 diseases. This substance was copper. Its history is all the 

 more interesting from the fact that the first use of its most 

 effective combination was not in any way connected with the 

 fungous diseases of the grape, but rather with the human 

 enemies of the vineyardist. Nevertheless, when the mildew- 

 appeared, this preparation rose to the occasion, and protected 

 the foliage, as well as it had done the fruit of the vines. 



In southwestern France, in the maritime department of 

 Gironde, is situated the city of Bordeaux. It lies near the west- 

 ern border of a large horticultural district of w r hich the grape 

 is by far the most important fruit. These grapes are mostly 

 manufactured into wine, and it is particularly the clarets which 

 have made this district known throughout the world. It is 

 here that the downy mildew of America first made its appear- 

 ance in Europe, probably in 1878, and here also it first became 

 most serious. The summer of 1882 was particularly favorable 

 to its development; and as no steps had been taken to check 

 its progress, the injury done to vineyards was very great. The 

 foliage of the vines was destroyed, and fell to the ground during 

 the summer. This prevented the proper ripening of the grapes, 

 and the harvest was almost without value. 



A few vines, however, escape this general attack. These 

 were situated along the highways, particularly about Margaux, 

 St. Julian, and Pauillac, in the Medoc. It was noticed by many 

 that in the fall of 1882 certain vines retained their foliage in an 

 almost perfect condition. Yineyardists in these localities had 

 suffered considerable losses from the stealing of their grapes 

 by children and travelers along the highways. It had for- 

 merly been the custom 1 to sprinkle verdigris upon a few rows 

 of the vines nearest to the road for the purpose of giving the 

 fruit the appearance of having been poisoned. Several years 

 before the appearance of the downy mildew this substance was 



1 Millardet, Jour. d'Ag. Prat. 1885, Oct. 8, 514. Prillieux, "Report to the 

 Minister of Agriculture," Oct. 22, 1885. 



