Diseases of Plants 295 
Controlling fungous diseases with poison. Poisons 
which kill fungi are called fungicides. The best-known 
and most valuable fungicide is Bordeaux mixture. The 
standard formula for this fungicide is known as the 
“ 4-4-50 formula,” so called because it is made from 4 
pounds of copper sulfate, 4 pounds of fresh slaked lime 
(or 5 pounds hydrated lime), and 50 gallons of water. 
For the home garden, a smaller amount of the material 
is usually sufficient for all needs, and it can be made in 
the same proportions, as follows: 
Prepare separately two stock solutions which we will 
call Aand B. To make solution A, inclose 2 pounds of 
copper sulfate in a cloth bag, and hang it in a vessel con- 
taining 2 gallons of water. A metal bucket will be de- 
stroyed by the solution ; so a wooden or glazed earthen- 
ware vessel must be used. The bag containing copper 
sulfate should be hung in the upper part of the water and 
not allowed to touch the bottom or sides of the vessel. : ° 
To make solution B, prepare a lime paste either by 
slaking 2 pounds of fresh stone lime in water or by adding 
22 pounds of hydrated lime to water. Then add water to 
make 2 gallons. This solution also must be made and 
kept in an earthen or wooden vessel. 
These stock solutions may be kept for use throughout 
the summer, but the vessels should be kept tightly 
covered to prevent evaporation of water and to keep dust 
out. Assome water will evaporate, it is well to mark the 
height of the liquid after each use of the stock, and then 
add water to fill to this height just before the stock is 
again used. In this way the proper strength of the solu- 
tion is maintained. 
