The Canadian Horticulturist. 187 



The downy mildews represent a more difficult family of parasites to treat 

 uccessfully, the tissues of the host plant being penetrated by the mycelium of 

 the fungus. As in the former case, all dead leaves and prunings should be 

 burned. 



The following remedy has been used with considerable success : it is pre- 

 pared by boiUng i lb. of flowers of sulphur and i lb. of quick lime in 5 pints of 

 water in an earthen pot for ten minutes, stirring constantly ; when it has settled 

 the clear liquid is poured off. The plants should be syringed with a mixture of 

 this preparation in one hundred parts of water. This will kill the outside and 

 fruiting threads, but the internal mycelium renders a thorough cure very difficult. 



I had excellent results last season in treating downy mildew on outdoor grapes 

 with the ammoniacal copper carbonate 2 oz. to 25 gallons of water, and would 

 recommend a trial with this under glass. When it is not readily procurable, the 

 Bordeaux mixture can be used with equally good results, as demonstrated by 

 experiments by the Department of Mycology at Washington last year. Formula 

 for preparation as given in Horticulturists' Rule Book : Dissolve 6 lbs. of sul- 

 phate of copper in 16 gallons of water. In another vessel slake 4 lbs. fresh lime 

 in 6 gallons of water. When the latter mixture has cooled it is slowly poured 

 into the copper solution, care being taken to mix the fluids thoroughly by con- 

 stant stirring. Prepare some days before using. Stir before applying. 



NUT TREES FOR WIND BREAK. 



Would you oblige me with information as to the value of nut trees as a wind break. 

 Do they grow well on sandy soil ? Would the walnut or filbert screen an orchard from the 

 wind as well as pine ? Would the catepillars that infest the walnut be likely to attack 

 peach or other trees, when having distroyed all leaves on the nut ti'ees ? Please give me 

 advice as to planting ; and the distance apart the trees should be set? 



VVm. Clapton, Fewcick, Ont. 



Reply by Hon. H. J. Joly, Quebec. 



In answer to the enquiries of yours of the loth inst, I do not think the Black 

 Walnut fit for a wind break. Its leaves come out too late and drop to early, and 

 its branches are too easily broken off by the wind, and even by very heavy sum- 

 mer rains ; in fact, it requires shelter for itself against the storms instead of 

 affording it to other trees. The spruce or pine are much better for the purpose. 



You ask " if the Black Walnut would grow well on sandy soil ? " I certainly 

 would not select it for planting on such soil, except as an experiment which 

 ought to be made. Its favorite home in the west is the deep alluvial soil. I 

 have only tried it near Quebec, on clay soil and on some islands formed at the 

 mouth of a river, by successive deposits containing, with a large proportion of 

 sand, other elements of much richness, which make it very different from ordi- 

 nary sandy soil. 



We have found our young Black Walnuts very free from caterpillars at a 

 season when the apple trees in the orchard close by, are covered with patches of 



