5oo 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 191. 



and dried up six weeks before the others, and giving practi- 

 cally no crop. This potato-patch was subsequently planted 

 again to Peachblows. When the tubers sprouted I saw that 

 growth on the plat which had not been sprayed was earlier 

 and more vigorous than on the plats which were sprayed the 

 previous season. 



The next year this patch was again planted to Peachblows. 

 On three rows I sprayed the tubers, after they were dropped 

 along the furrow, with Bordeaux mixture, expending about the 

 same quantity of the liquid as would be used in one spraying 

 of a row of Grape-vines. These sprayed tubers generally 

 failed to sprout. Nothing from them was visible above ground 

 for two weeks after those in the other plats were up, and at 

 last more than half of the sprayed tubers never sprouted, rot- 

 ting in the ground. 



In the spring of 1891 I again planted this Potato-patch to 

 Peachblows. On the plat where the tubers had formerly been 

 sprayed along the furrow, but not thus sprayed this year, fully 

 seventy-five per cent, of the Potatoes failed to grow, and those 

 which finally did come up showed a weak and spindling 

 growth, and yielded very few potatoes. The other plats did 

 fairly well, excepting that the plat which has never been sub- 

 jected to the copper-spraying showed the best growth of plants. 

 These, however, succumbed to the blight, as I have continu- 

 ously left this plat untreated. The Potato-plant may be com- 

 pletely protected from this rot fungus by persistent spraying 

 with the Bordeaux mixture, but there is ground for fears that 

 present benefits may be followed by a future injury, and that 

 soils once largely contaminated by the copper salts may be 

 thus rendered bad for the growth of plants. 



I shall renew this Potato experiment another season, but I 

 fear that similar results will be manifest. It will be a serious 

 matter if we find that in our zeal to save the health of our 

 plants by these copper applications we risk the permanent 

 ruin of our soil. 



, When planting my hot-bed with Sweet Potatoes, this spring, 

 I sprayed the tubers, when laid in one section of the bed, lib- 

 erally with the Bordeaux mixture. None of the tubers thus 

 sprayed sprouted; all rotted. I removed these spoiled tubers, 

 and, without changing the soil in this section of the bed, re- 

 planted it with sound and growing tubers, the sprouts on which 

 were half an inch long. Many of these tubers did not send a 

 sprout above ground, but they perished as did the ones 

 formerly planted. I did not obtain any good plants from this 

 sprayed section of the hot-bed. 



I shall leave the soil in this bed exposed during winter, and 

 purpose next spring to save the soil of the sprayed section and 

 replant it with Sweet Potatoes, in order to learn if the contami- 

 nation of the copper remains in the upper stratum, or if it is 

 washed downward so deeply as not to be harmful to the 

 growth of the plants. These analyses of the soil by vegeta- 

 tion are more searching and more practical than those made 

 by the chemist can be. 



My Experiment Vineyard, which has been annually sub- 

 jected to treatment by the copper solutions ever since 1887, 

 affords a good field for investigation. I purpose to examine 

 chemically the soil of this vineyard, in successive strata, to the 

 depth of, say, two feet, to find where the copper is. On this 

 Experiment Vineyard I do not, ,as yet, see any defect in the 

 growth of the vines. All are thrifty and are peculiarly healthy. 

 My sprayed vines are covered with green foliage and have 

 plenty of well-ripened canes, while a neighboring vineyard, 

 not ten feet distant from mine, has been bare of leaves for the 

 past two weeks, with its canes but poorly ripened. On my 

 vineyard this year I saved the entire crop by spraying with the 

 Bordeaux mixture. The neighboring vineyard, of the same 

 variety of grapes, lost its entire crop by the black rot. So far 

 as the Vine is concerned its testimony is decidedly in favor of 

 » the use of the copper remedies. Yet, other plants in this vine- 

 yard — weeds and grasses — tell plainly that something in the soil 

 is hostile to their health. The surface-growths in my Experi- 

 ment Vineyard, which has been longest sprayed with the 

 copper mixtures, contrast in a striking way with those of vine- 

 yards untreated. Among untreated Vines the weeds and 

 grasses are knee-deep. In the sprayed vineyard the soil is 

 nearly bare of this sort of vegetation. 



These observations suggest that it may be well to be parsi- 

 monious in the use of copper solutions on our soils. How 

 they may affect the root-system of the Vine we, as yet, do not 

 know ; but for other vegetations it will possibly prove dan- 

 gerous. At any rate, until we know more on this subject, it 

 will be more safe to economize in the application of copper. 

 - When we first learned of these mixtures from France it was 

 stated that the simple solufton of copper sulphate — one pound 

 of the sulphate to twenty-two gallons of water — is effective in 



preventing diseases of the Vine. We found that this " simple 

 solution " harmed the foliage of the Vine. We then substi- 

 tuted the Bordeaux mixture, six pounds of copper sulphate, 

 four pounds of fresh lime (to neutralize the acid of the sul- 

 phate), and twenty-two gallons of water. French professors 

 at Montpelier now advise the use of twice as much sulphate 

 in the mixture. Now, if the "simple solution" of copper be 

 fatal to the fungus, why is the Bordeaux mixture better, with 

 its six times as much copper salts and lime, to neutralize its 

 effect on foliage ? My experiments with the copper sulphates 

 have shown that it is the copper only which is the fungicide. 

 Hence, why may not only one pound of it be effective, if it be 

 neutralized in acid by an alkali ? 



The experiments in prevention of plant-diseases are, as yet, 

 but crude. Many tests must be made before our agricultural 

 pathologists can speak with certainty on many vital points. 

 The fact is fixed, that the copper mixtures are reliable fungi- 

 cides. We must now further find how to use them safely — 

 that is, without harm to vegetation. 



The suspicion of injury to man when he partakes of fruits 

 sprayed with the copper solutions has been suggested by some 

 city boards of health. But this is preposterous. 



Vineland, N. J. A. W. Pearson. 



Work of the Season. 



'THE preparation of various plants and bulbs for winter- 

 *■ flowering will occupy a prominent place in the routine 

 work of the present time. The more tender subjects, such as 

 Bouvardias, Stevias, Callas, etc., will be safely housed before 

 this date, for to leave them out after October 1st in this lati- 

 tude is only to invite injury. Lilium Harrisii, for early flower- 

 ing, should have been potted some weeks ago, but if needed 

 for Easter only, there is still time. For the latter purpose L. 

 longiflorum is decidedly better, making a much handsomer 

 pot-plant than the Bermuda Lily. 



As a potting material for these Lilies there is nothing better 

 than light loam well enriched with good manure, and they do 

 the best when originally set into the pots where they are to 

 bloom. It is bad practice to disturb the roots of a Lily by a 

 shift after the plant has started. In order to secure a good 

 root-growth before the top makes much headway, these Lilies 

 should be placed in a cold frame until sharp frosts are appre- 

 hended, when, of course, they must be brought into more 

 protected quarters ; and I have secured the strongest growth 

 by covering the frame with slightly shaded sashes instead 

 of covering the pots with a mulching. Free ventilation is 

 needed, both night and day, so long as the weather will permit. 



Lily-of-the- Valley crowns, or pips, will also need to be cared 

 for now. It is best to pot the crowns as soon as they arrive, 

 and then store them out-doors until needed. The separate 

 pips may be treated in the same manner, or may be heeled-in 

 in a frame in the original bundles. 



Tulips, Hyacinths and Narcissus should also be potted as 

 received and well covered in cold frames, in order to induce 

 a strong growth. From here they may be brought into heat 

 in successive lots as required. Cannas should be lifted as 

 soon as the foliage is injured by frost and may be stored in 

 almost any moderately warm and dry place for the winter. It 

 will be found a good plan to lift a few clumps of the 

 best dwarf varieties before frost and put them in tubs or boxes 

 for conservatory decoration, and also to furnish flowers for 

 cutting during the winter. The handsome foliage and bright 

 flowers of some of these Cannas are very effective when used 

 in large vases. 



Carnations recently lifted should be staked and tied as soon 

 as possible, to prevent the flower-shoots from falling about, 

 and if the plants are set out on a bench, the neatest method 

 of staking is by means of wires placed in the same way as 

 would be done for a bench of Roses. But, whatever method 

 is adopted, some care should be given to the tying of Carna- 

 tions, for, when bunched up too tightly, the foliage in the cen- 

 tre of the plant soon decays from lack of light and air, and not 

 only the appearance, but also the health of the plants is ruined. 



Cyclamens will soon be showing flower— in fact, many will 

 do so before this — and among the most necessary precautions 

 for their welfare are free ventilation and plenty of light. It 

 should also be remembered that shapely, sturdy plants cannot 

 be developed unless they are allowed abundant room. 



To encourage the bracts of Poinsettias a stimulant in the 

 form of liquid manure should be given about once a week. 

 Pure guano is probably the most effective for this purpose, 

 but it should at all times be used with caution, for an overdose 

 will do considerable injury. 



Holmesburg, Pa. W. -"• laplin. 



