ON PESTS GENERALLY. 



I 107 



despite every care in its cultivation. Another factor for the 

 practical gardener to consider is the question of cropping. The 

 practice of growing the same crop, or even one liable to similar 

 diseases, year after year, on the same spot, is to be condemned, 

 as the cultivator's trouble is only increased. Too little attention 

 is also paid to fruit and other receptacles, and by this means 

 it is quite possible to introduce a most troublesome disease into 

 an area that previously boasted an immunity therefrom. 



Of the standard fungicides there can be no question as to 

 the practical value of the Bordeaux Mixture, for whose intro- 

 duction we are indebted to Millardet, who first experimented 

 with it in 1882. It was, however, several years after that date 

 that the preparation was given a really practical trial. The 

 Gardener' s Chronicle was the first to advocate the use of the 

 Bordeaux Mixture, and an article on the subject appeared in 

 that journal in 1885. The reports from the first few trials here 

 were hardly favourably regarded, as it was found that the mixture, 

 as originally propounded, scorched the foliage, especially in the 

 young and tender stage. It was then considerably modified, and 

 a safe formula is as follows : 



Bordeaux Mixture. — Copper sulphate, 61b. ; unslacked lime, 

 41b. ; water, 5ogals. Dissolve the copper sulphate (in an 

 earthen or wooden vessel) by tying it in a piece of coarse 

 sacking and suspending it by means of a stick across the vessel, 

 which should contain half the amount of water given in above 

 recipe. Next slack the lime in another vessel, adding the water 

 by degrees until a smooth paste has been formed, quite free 

 from lumps. Add sufficient water to bring the water up to 

 the maximum required, and allow to cool. The two mixtures 

 should now be poured slowly into a large tub capable of holding 

 6ogals. or more, and well stirred for a time with a piece of 

 wood. 



Some writers, Ferret for instance, recommends the addition of 

 41b. of molasses to the mixture, with a view to increasing its 

 adhesiveness, while others advocate a similar quantity of soft 

 soap. The preparation should be got ready and used the same 

 day, as after a time the copper sulphate is precipitated, and 

 requires constant stirring, otherwise the mixture would be inert 

 as a fungicide. 



Even the 5ogal. formula may be found too strong for young 

 foliage and the tenderer fruits, like Peaches and Nectarines. 

 In that case it ' would be advisable to increase the quantity of 

 quicklime, and add water to 6ogals. For Potatoes, Apples, Pears, 

 Plums, and Gooseberries the 5ogal. formula will usually suffice ; 

 but for Vines, Peaches, and Nectarines the weaker mixture will 

 be safer. The spraying should not be continued later than six 

 weeks prior to the fruit being required for market or table — on 

 account of appearances alone. 



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