56 



BIGGLE GARDEN BOOK 



deaux on almost all foliage — except, perhaps, on 

 extra-tender things such as watermelon vines, peach 

 trees, etc. For these it is wiser to use the following 

 half-strength mixture : Two pounds of copper sul- 

 phate, two pounds of quicklime, fifty gallons of 

 w^ater. 



Formalin : This is also called formaldehyde, 

 and may be purchased at drug stores. Its principal 

 use in the garden is to treat seed potatoes to prevent 

 a fungous disease of the tubers called "scab." Soak 

 the whole seed for two hours in a mixture of one- 

 half pint of formalin and fifteen gallons of cold 

 water ; dry the seed, cut, and plant in ground that has 

 not recently grown potatoes. 



Powdered sulphur : For mildew on rose leaves, 

 gooseberry bushes, etc. Dust or blow it on when the 

 plants are wet. 



Bordeaux Combined with Insect Poison. — By 

 adding one-quarter pound of Paris green to each 

 fifty gallons of either of the Bordeaux formulas, the 

 mixture becomes a combined fungicide and insecti- 

 cide. Or, instead of Paris green, add about two 

 pounds of arsenate of lead (an excellent commer- 

 cial form of this, called ''Disparene," is for sale by 

 seedsmen). The advantages of arsenate of lead 

 over Paris green are, first, it is not apt to burn 

 foliage even if used in rather excessive quantities ; 

 and, second, it "sticks" to the foliage, etc.. better 

 and longer. 



Insecticides. — Sometimes I find it desirable to 

 apply a treatment for insects alone, without the 

 bother of making the regulation Bordeaux. Here 

 are a few standard formulas suited for chewing 

 insects : 



Paris green : Two pounds of quicklime, one- 



