56 BIGGLE GARDEN BOOK 



deaux on almost all foliage except, perhaps, on 

 extra-tender things such as watermelon vines, peach 

 trees, etc. For these it is wiser to use the following 

 half-strength mixture: One and one-half pounds of 

 copper sulphate, two pounds of quicklime, fifty gal- 

 lons of water. 



Formalin: This is also called formaldehyde, 

 and may be purchased at drug stores. Its principal 

 use in the garden is to treat seed potatoes to prevent 

 a fungous disease of the- tubers called "scab." Soak 

 the whole seed for two hours in a mixture of one- 

 half pint of formalin and fifteen gallons of cold 

 water ; dry the seed, cut, and plant in ground that has 

 not recently grown potatoes. 



Powdered sulphur : For mildew on rose leaves, 

 gooseberry bushes, etc. Dust or blow it on when the 

 plants are wet. 



BORDEAUX COMBINED WITH INSECT POISON. By 

 adding one-quarter pound of Paris green to each 

 fifty gallons of either of the Bordeaux formulas, the 

 mixture becomes a combined fungicide and insecti- 

 cide. Or, instead of Paris green, add about two 

 pounds of arsenate of lead (excellent commercial 

 forms of this are for sale by seedsmen). The ad- 

 vantages of arsenate of lead over Paris green are, 

 first, it is not apt to burn foliage even if used in 

 rather excessive quantities ; and, second, it "sticks" 

 to the foliage, etc., better and longer. But it costs 

 a little more than Paris green. 



INSECTICIDES. Sometimes I find it desirable to 

 apply a treatment for insects alone, without the 

 bother of making the regulation Bordeaux. Here 

 are a few standard formulas suited for chewing 

 insects : 



Paris green : Two pounds of quicklime, one- 



