172 



CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Scribner's report of 1886, represents 

 the filaments growing out through the 

 stomatum or breathing pore of a leaf, 

 and bearing the summer spores (Coni- 

 dia) upon their summit, all of course 

 greatly magnified. The number of 

 such spores which may be produced 

 upon a single vine is estimated to vary 

 from two to ten millions ; a fact which 

 clearly explains how quickly a whole 

 vineyard may be " struck " with mil- 

 dew. One of these spores, falling 

 upon a moist grape leaf, will germinate 

 in a couple of hours, by dividing into 

 distinct particles of naked protoplasm ; 

 these swim about for about twenty min- 

 utes by means of fine hair-like cilia at- 

 tached to one side, and then settle down 

 at rest and push out a germinal tube 

 which penetrates the leaf and develops 

 into a new mycelium. 



The two remedies which have proved 

 most efiective in destroying this fungus 

 are (1) the copper mixture of Gironde 

 (or Bordeaux mixture) and (2) blue 

 water (or Eau celeste). 



The Bordeaux mixture has already 

 been recommended in our reports, but 

 we give the most approved formula, viz : 

 Dissolve in a wooden vessel Bibs of 

 sulphate of copper in fifteen gallons of 

 water ; and in another vessel slake 

 lOlbs of lime in 5 gallons of water. 

 When both are cooled pour the latter 

 slowly into the former, mixing the 

 fluids thoroughly. 



The Eau celeste is prepared by dis- 

 solving lib of sulphate of copper in 3 

 or 4 gallons of hot water. When dis- 

 solved and the solution cooled, add 

 1 pint of liquid commercial ammonia. 

 Dilute to 22 gallons. 



Both these remedies are proved to 

 be an absolute remedy for mildew ; but 



to be effective three treatments are 

 necessary, the first during last half of 

 May, the second during the last half o^ 

 June, and the third during the first 

 half of August. To avoid injury to 

 the foliage it may be necessary to use 

 a weaker solution for the first treat- 

 ment than for the second or third. 

 For applying these solutions the 

 French have perfected excellent spray- 

 ing machines of moderate cost. We 

 copy an illustration of the Japy ma- 

 chine, which will give our readers a better 

 idea of it than a written description. 



Fic bZ -Jai'\ m>rayixo Machine. 



With this machine it is claimed 

 that a single workman can treat ten 

 or fifteen acres per day. 



We hope our Canadian vineyardists 

 •wrill not be left behind by French or 

 American growers. Negligent growers 

 will be discouraged and driven out of 

 the business by fungi and insects ; 

 while the enterprising and industrious 

 vineyardist will have all the advantage 

 of an improved market thereby, and suc- 

 ceed in cultivating varieties of special 

 excellence,otherwise rejected because of 

 the difticulties attending their culture. 



