Gardening for Amateurs 



rubbish mixed with the soil. The Pasque 

 Flower (A. Pulsatilla) which is found on 

 some of the chalk downs in this country 

 also makes a lovely pot plant when its. 

 silky purple flowers are open. 



Other miscellaneous plants which contri- 

 bute to a display during spring are Shortia 

 galacifolia, with white bell-like flowers ; S. 



uniflora, with pink flowers ; Brodiaea uniflora, 

 with white flowers ; Tulips in variety ; Iris 

 Bucharica. with yellow blossom ; the Trinity 

 Flower (Trillium), Grape Hyacinth (Mus- 

 cari), with blue and white flowers ; and the 

 charming little Rock Jasmine (Androeace 

 Laggeri). But even these do not exhaust 

 the list. 



Bordeaux Mixture : How to Make. 



Bordeaux Mixture is undoubtedly the best 

 fungicide discovered up to the present time, 

 and it may be employed in almost all cases 

 where plants are attacked by mildews, rusts 

 or similar troubles. Now the old-fashioned 

 method of making this mixture from milk 

 of lime is discredited among scientists who 

 have been experimenting with the substance. 

 No matter what precautions are taken, the 

 milk of lime is always gritty, there is not a 

 perfect combination with the copper sulphate, 

 and the Bordeaux precipitate obtained is 

 far from being in the best mechanical con- 

 dition for applying to the plants. The aim 

 is to get a light flocculent precipitate in the 

 finest possible state of division ; this is only 

 obtained when the lime is as dilute a solution 

 as possible and the copper sulphate is a 

 fairly concentrated form. Let me give what 

 is now recognised as the best method of 

 making the fungicide, the quantities being 

 small, to suit the amateur, and so arranged 

 as to give a minimum of trouble. 



Take 1 oz. of good copper sulphate crystals 

 (not the impure commercial bluestone), and 

 dissolve this in a large teacupful of boiling 

 water, or a little under \ pint. This opera- 

 tion must be carried out in a wooden or 

 porcelain dish, and the liquid stirred up 

 with a stick. Allow it to cool. Make a 

 quantity of lime water by placing some 

 quicklime or lime recently slaked in a tub 

 of water, stirring up once or twice, and then 

 allowing the liquid to settle for an hour or 

 two. A small quantity of lime does for a 

 great amount of water ; a handful of fresh 

 quicklime is sufficient for 10 gallons. Re- 

 move 1 gallon of the limewater, when ready, 

 in a pail, galvanised or wooden, and into the 

 centre of the liquid pour the copper sulphate 

 solution, slowly stirring all the time. The 



Bordeaux Mixture is now ready, and may 

 be used immediately. Keep stirring it up 

 during the operation of spraying, and be 

 sure to use it the same day as made, since it 

 does not keep well. For delicate seedlings 

 or hothouse plants add a little more water 

 to dilute the liquid before use. 



Made in the above way the Bordeaux 

 Mixture is ready for Chrysanthemum rust, 

 Rose mildew, Potato disease, and most of 

 the fungoid pests now so virulent in the 

 garden. Large quantities may be made up 

 as desired, always keeping the proportions 

 given above. As all the ingredients are 

 cheap, and the above method of making the 

 substance simple, resulting in a fungicide 

 efficient and effective in practice, there ought 

 not to be the slightest hesitation in using it 

 at the least sign of disease. I am inclined 

 to think that Parliamentary measures will 

 require to be taken for some of the more 

 virulent diseases, and the amateur gardener 

 had better become familiar with remedial 

 and preventive measures rather than the 

 old " pull and burn " advice. 



Acorus Calamus (Sweet Flag) or 

 Myrtle Grass is a British plant. It in- 

 habits the margins of lakes and streams, 

 usually growing most luxuriantly in about 

 six inches of water. In many respects its 

 presence is an advantage from a utilitarian 

 standpoint, for the binding character of its 

 matted stems prevents erosion of the banks. 

 It must, however, be cut back severely now 

 and then, as it soon outgrows its position. 

 Every piece of rhizome planted in mud may 

 be expected to form a plant. The fragrant, 

 sword-like leaves grow 2 to 3 feet long, but 

 the flowers are not showy. The variety 

 variegatus has silvery variegated leaves, 

 whilst the Japanese Acorus gramineus has 

 narrow grass -like foliage. 



