24 The Spraying of Plants. 



Paulin published in the Journal de Beaune a note on the 

 good effects which followed the covering of posts with a con- 

 centrated solution of the sulphate of copper. The work had 

 been done in Burgundy. On the 23d of September the above 

 journal also contained an article on the same subject, written 

 by Montoy. Ad. Perrey mentions 1 a case in which the posts 

 that supported the vines were treated with a solution of sul- 

 phate of copper, and this caused all the leaves within a circle 

 20-25 cm. in diameter, the post being at the center, to remain 

 upon the vine. Untreated vines lost all their foliage. Several 

 other observers in various sections of France noted the same 

 fact, and all agreed that the beneficial action extended to 

 practically the same distance as mentioned above. 2 The prac- 

 tice was consequently of value only for vines not more than 

 five or six years old, since larger vines carry so much foliage 

 outside of the protected belt. Nevertheless, many growers soon 

 made a practice of covering the posts, vines, and also the 

 tying material, with a strong solution of copper sulphate; and 

 some believed excellent protection followed the treatment. But 

 the method did not give uniformly good results, and some 

 more effective remedy was still sought. 



In 1885 the French vineyardists were still apparently with- 

 out a good remedy for the mildew. P. Pichard, director of 

 the agricultural station at Vaucluse, proposed 3 a solution of 

 the liver of sulphur ; and Foe'x, director of the school of Viti- 

 culture at Montpellier, asserted 4 that, after making an appli- 

 cation of an emulsion of one part phenic acid in 100 parts 

 of soap water, all traces of mildew disappeared. He found it 

 advisable to add glycerine to this preparation, in order to pre- 

 vent it from drying too fast. V. Cambon advised the use of 

 a 2 per cent solution of bisulphate of soda. 



Origin of the Bordeaux Mixture. 



Such, in general, was the nature of the experimental work 

 which was done at this time. New chemicals were tried, as well 



1 Jour. d'Aff. Prat. 1884, Oct. 16, 540. See also report of Van Tieghem to 

 Academy of Sciences, 1884, Sept. 29. 



2 Bidault, Jour, de VAg. 1885, Oct. 31, 712. 

 a Jour. d'Ag. Prat. 1885, Feb. 5, 217. 



Ibid. loc. cit. 



