DISEASES, INSECTS, AND ENEMIES. 265 



on roaes, has recently appeared in the •" Garden." It is not new, but 

 is effective : " Take an iron pot or an earthen pipkin and put into it 

 lib. of flowers of snlphnr and the same quantity of freshly-slaked Unie. 

 Pour on the mixture six pints of water, and when well mixed place the 

 pot on the fire and boil for ten minutes, taking care to stic all the time. 

 Allow tiie resulting liquor to cool down, and when settled pour off the 

 clear liquor into bottles, which must be kept well corked and in a dark 

 place. For use, a pint of the solution is mixed with twelve gallons of 

 water, which immediately becomes milk, and the trees attacked are well 

 syringed with it. This remedy may be applied early in the morning, but 

 preferably in the evening. The beat time in the year is the spring, when 

 the shoots are about 2in. long. The solution should be used before any 

 signs of the malady appear. If, however, it has made its appearance, two 

 or three syringings will be sufficient to get rid of it thoroughly. It may 

 be used for any other planlj attacked with mildew. Its efficiency is due 

 to the compound formed by the lime and the sulphur.' ' This is quite as 

 useful for peaches and nectarines as for roses, and is probably the basis 

 of most of the liquid remedies advertised and sold for the cure of mildew 

 on plants. 



IV.— Blister. 



This is a most troublesome disease, chiefly, though not wholly, 

 confined to the leaves, for it has been found on young shoots as 

 well. It is often associated with mildew and aphides, and both have 

 been held by some to produce, if not aggravate, this curious and most 

 injurious disease. It may be said to utterly destroy the vital function of 

 every leaf which it affects to any serious extent. The mid rib and main 

 veins of the leaves become swollen and distorted, like a limb affected by 

 gout, and a part or whole of the tissue and substance of the leaf is 

 converted into irregular wart-like masses of great thickness and con- 

 'Siderable brittleness. The malformation 1% most peculiar, and during 

 its process the leaf often turns and rolls itself into the most singular and 

 fantastic forms. The function of the blistered leaf is utterly destroyed. 

 There can be little doubt that the cause of blistering is sudden and severe 

 ■cold after growth has fairly begun and is proceeding with consider- 

 able vigour. And just as frost and fire have analogous effects on our 

 own flesh, so are cold and also heat held to blister peach leaves in this 

 -way. As this blistering mostly follows on the heels of spring frosts, it 

 .can hardly be doubted that cold is the cause. Some cultivators, how- 

 ever, do doubt ; and if, as they contend, blistering can be prevented by 



