54 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



can be dispensed with entirely most seasons, and 

 even in a year particularly favourable to the disease 

 it need only be applied to main-crop varieties. 

 Generally, early varieties should not be sprayed; 

 but if they are standing late in the ground, and 

 are seen to be attacked by the disease, they should 

 afc once be lifted and stored before the tubers are 

 affected. It is unnecessary to recognise any rule as 

 to when spraying should be done, as this must be 

 decided each season according to the weather and 

 other conditions. In the south and Midlands of 

 England the crop may be sprayed the first fortnight 

 of July, giving a second spray about four weeks later ; 

 while in the north it is quite soon enough to spray at 

 the beginning of August, spraying again, if considered 

 necessary, three weeks later. There it has generally 

 been found that if the weather during July and the 

 first half of August is fairly dry, and sunshine abun- 

 dant, spraying is quite unnecessary. 



All spraying should be done when the foliage is 

 perfectly dry, but not during very hot sunshine. 

 The spray is best applied from below, upwards, in 

 the form of a fine mist, and so as to wet both the 

 under and upper surfaces of the leaves. 



Spraying Mixtures. Burgundy Mixture made as 

 follows : 1 Ib. copper sulphate and 1 J Ibs. washing 

 soda in 10 gallons of water. Put 7 gallons of water 

 into a tub or barrel and suspend a piece of sacking 

 containing the copper sulphate under the surface of 

 the water until it is quite dissolved, moving it about 

 frequently ; dissolve the soda in 3 gallons of water, 

 and then pour this slowly into the copper solution, at 

 the same time stirring constantly. 



