Former Treatments of drape Diseases. 91 



lished by F. Lamson-Scribner, at that time assistant botanist 

 in the Department of Agriculture at Washington, in the annual 

 report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1885, 

 although it actually appeared earlier in articles published by 

 the Section of Vegetable Pathology which bear a later date. 

 On page 84 of this report may be found the following para- 

 graph 



" Many remedies for the disease of the vine due to the 

 peronospora have been proposed, but so far the most effectual 

 specific known is a solution of lime and sulphate of copper. It 

 is made by dissolving 18 pounds of sulphate of copper in about 

 22 gallons of water ; 1 in another vessel mix 34 pounds of coarse 

 lime with 6 or 7 gallons of water, and to this solution add the 

 solution of copper. A bluish paste will be the result,, This 

 compound, when thoroughly mixed, is brushed over the leaves 

 of the vine with a small broom, care being taken not to touch 

 the grapes. This remedy, it is asserted, will not only destroy 

 the mildew, but will prevent its attacks." This preparation 

 was at first known as " the copper mixture of Gironde." 



The following statements, no less interesting than the above, 

 may be found on page 81 of the same report : " Many of the 

 diseases of our fruit orchards might be remedied, or at least 

 diminished, by raking together and burning the leaves as soon 

 as they have fallen. . . . The plan of raking up the leaves and 

 burning them has been especially recommended as a means of 

 checking the growth of the apple-scab fungus, and the pear- 

 tree scab. In respect to the latter disease, it is not confined to 

 the leaves and fruit, but extends to the young shoots also. . . . 

 If this disease be taken early, say at the time of the formation 

 of the conidial or summer spores (the only spores so far known), 

 the direct application of some fungicide might prove beneficial. 

 Experiments alone will prove the usefulness of this." 



Here, then, are the first indications of a future which could 

 scarcely have been prophesied at the time, even by the boldest 

 imagination ; w r e have a hint of a power whose influence was 

 destined to bring the growing of plants largely out of the realm 

 of chance, so far as fungous diseases are concerned, and with 



1 This amount of water is undoubtedly given as an equivalent of the French 

 hectoliter. But the French measure is equivalent to 26.41T gallons of the standard 

 United States measures. See Appendix. 



