Spraying in England. 55 



The sulphide of potassium was at one time very highly recom- 

 mended in England. It was first successfully applied by Ed- 

 mund Tonks. 1 lie used one-half ounce in a pint of water, and 

 it proved to be very effective in controlling the mildew of 

 roses. This soon became one of the best known remedies in 

 England, and may have been influential in delaying the adop- 

 tion of French practices. 



A note published in 1887 2 says that "the sulphate of copper 

 is being used largely in America and France against mildew on 

 vines. It is even suggested as a remedy for potato mildewy but 

 as this grows in the interior of the plant it is difficult to see that 

 it can effect much good. Amongst several methods of apply- 

 ing the copper solution, the simplest is to dissolve 1 pound of 

 the pure sulphate in 25 gallons of water. Spray the vines 

 with a force-pump with a nozzle of fine aperture. The addi- 

 tion of 1 pint of ammonia to the above solution adds to the 

 effect. By ammonia we presume a solution of the carbonate is 

 intended." 



The progress made in France was carefully watched by some 

 of the English journals. The results of the more important 

 experiments vere published, and English gardeners were not 

 wanting in information regarding the value of the copper com- 

 pounds. A few of the more important articles may here be 

 mentioned. The Gardeners' Chronicle was especially active in this 

 respect, and in 1888 8 it gave an account of the method of mak- 

 ing the Bordeaux mixture as recommended by Prillieux. Three 

 weeks later 4 it speaks of the experiments of Prillieux regarding 

 the treatment of potatoes for the blight. These experiments 

 were very successful, and if the methods had been adopted in 

 England great losses would have been prevented. During 

 January of the following year 5 there appeared a translation of 

 an article in the Revue Horticole regarding the proper manufact- 

 ure and use of the sulphate of copper and lime mixture. Sev- 

 eral such translations were made during 1890, but these were 

 apparently not heeded until 1891, 6 when the Royal Agricultural 

 Society of England conducted some experiments for the preven- 

 tion of blight upon potatoes. These experiments are probably 



1 Card. Chron. 1885, Feb. 28, 27G. * Ibid. Sept. 22, 332. 



2 Ibid. 1887, Aug. 6, 166. 5 Ibid. 18S9. Jan. 12, 50. 



3 Ibid. 1888, Sept. 1, 244. 6 Ibid. 1S91, A ug. 1, 137. 



