Spraying in 1887. 99 



not alter the fact that, even at this time, Paris green was believed 

 to have some value as a fungicide, and this is probably the first 

 statement of a fact which was not generally conceded until defi- 

 nite experiments made by trained men had established its truth. 

 Such are the most important events of the year 1886. The 

 main feature of the work was the spreading of information, and 

 the recommending of lines of treatment to be followed. Little 

 actual work was done. 



The work of 1887 was of the same nature, for the results of 

 scarcely an experiment made in this country were published. 

 Each one appeared to wait for someone else to try the reme- 

 dies, so that there might be no doubt about the successful issue 

 of later experiments. The United States Department of Agri- 

 culture apparently had no plantations in which to work, for, 

 in the annual report of the chief of the Section of Vegetable 

 Pathology, more recommendations appear than do the results 

 of actual field tests. The results of the French experiments are 

 still freely drawn upon, and they form the basis of the recom- 

 mendations. Most of the work done in this country was under 

 the direction of the Department of Agriculture, which is deserv- 

 ing of praise for thus bearing the brunt of a movement which, 

 with characteristic conservatism, has not been immediately 

 adopted by the bulk of the agricultural population. 



Circular No. 3 of the Section of Vegetable Pathology appeared 

 in April, 1887. Its subject was the " Treatment of the Downy 

 Mildew and Black Rot of the Grape." The value of copper 

 sulphate was placed above that of all compounds in which 

 no copper appeared, and formulas were given for the manufac- 

 ture of the following : the simple solution of sulphate of copper, 

 1 pound of the salt being dissolved in 25 gallons of water ; eau 

 celeste (Audoynaud process) ; copper mixture of Gironde, or 

 Bordeaux mixture, 16 pounds sulphate of copper, 30 pounds of 

 lime, 28 gallons of water, this being a more dilute mixture than 

 that recommended in 1886 ; and it is also stated that " some 

 have reduced the ingredients to 2 pounds of sulphate of copper, 

 and 2 pounds of lime to 22 gallons of water, and have obtained 

 good results." Directions are also given for the manufacture 

 of David's powder, and of sulphatine, the directions for the 

 latter being to "mix 2 pounds of anhydrous sulphate of 



