130 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



general use. It is invaluable for holding in 

 check the numerous minute parasitic fungi 

 forming spots on leaves, which, if allowed to 



Fig. 168.— Paeony Droupmg L>ioea*e (Sckruii.ua fxeoniai). 



1. Summer form of fruit (magnified 400). 2. Minute black Bclerotia formed 

 in dying leaf-stalks close to the ground. When the leaf-stalk decays 

 these Bclerotia rest.in the soil until the following spring, when they pro- 

 duce spores as shown in fig. ;t, which infect the young leaf-stalks as they 

 push through the soil (magnified 100). 4. Spores produced by sclerotium 

 germinating in the soil (magnified 100). 



run their course, cause a premature fall of the 

 foliage, which means badly -matured wood and 

 arrested growth of buds or grafts. In the case 

 of mature fruit-trees, similar fungi first appear- 

 ing on the leaves, pass on to the fruit and form 

 "scab" of Apples, Pears, &c; all such are 

 arrested by the fungicide under consideration if 

 spraying is commenced wdien the leaf-buds are 

 first expanding, and continued at intervals as 

 occasion demands. Potato disease, mildew of 

 Marrows and Cucumbers, Asparagus rust, &c, 

 are also checked by the use of Bordeaux mix- 

 ture, which is prepared as follows : 



Sulphate of copper, 

 Unslaked lime, 

 Water 



6 lbs. 

 4 „ 

 50 gallons. 



Dissolve the sulphate of copper separately in a 

 few gallons of water. In another vessel add 

 water gradually to the lime until a thick paste 

 is formed, then when cool, mix the two together, 

 and dilute up to 50 gallons w^ith water. 



If the mixture is properly made, the blade 

 of a knife held in the solution for one minute 



should be unchanged; if it is coated with cop- 

 per more lime should be added, and the experi- 

 ment repeated until no copper adheres to the 

 blade, when it is ready for use. 



The mixture should be constantly stirred 

 during spraying, otherwise the sediment settles, 

 and one portion will be too thin to answer the 

 desired end, whereas the other part will be too 

 concentrated, and scorch the foliage. Spraying 

 with Bordeaux mixture should cease when fruit 

 is beginning to ripen, otherwise it is liable to 

 become spotted. 



Ammoniacal Solution of Copper Carbonate. 



Carbonate of copper, 5 ounces. 



Strong aqua ammonia, ... ... 3 pints. 



Water, 45 gallons. 



Dissolve the carbonate of copper in a small 

 quantity of water, then add slowly the liquid 

 ammonia, and finally dilute with 45 gallons of 

 water. The liquid should be perfectly clear, 

 and of a blue colour. 



This fungicide is more especially effective 

 against those fungi having the mycelium situated 

 on the surface of the affected host-plant, as Rose 

 Mildew, Hop Mildew, &c, and may be used 

 generally in conservatories, gardens, &c, where, 

 for reasons already stated, Bordeaux mixture 

 cannot be used. 



Iron Sulphate Solution. 



Iron sulphate, 20 lbs. 



Sulphuric acid, 1 pint. 



Water, ... ... ... ... 50 gallons. 



Pour the sulphuric acid upon the iron sul- 

 phate, then add by degrees 50 gallons of w r ater. 

 A wooden vessel, as a barrel, must be used for 



Fig. ltjy.— strawberry-leaf Fungus {Sphatrella fragarue). 



The spots are whitish at the centre, surrounded by a dark dull-red border. 

 Spraying with Bordeaux mixture checks the disease (natural size). 

 (Gard. Chron.) 



the preparation of this mixture, as metal is 

 attacked by the sulphuric acid. 



This solution is of great service in destroying 

 the resting-spores of fungi in cases where a 



