560 Anthracnose of the Cucumber under Glass. [Sept., 



The following formulae are recommended : — 



5 lb. I lOur. 1^ oz. Flour. 



4 lb. Potassium SuliDhide (Liver of sulphur). 1^ oz. Potassium Sulphide. 

 100 gallons of water, 2 gallons of watei'. 



To prepare two gallons of spray l^-oz. of liver of sulphur are dissolved 

 in 14 pints of water in a bucket, while the flour paste is being made. A 

 very little water (not more than 4 fluid oz.) is added to IJ oz. of ordinary 

 wheat flour and after the mixture has been rubbed dovvn to smooth 

 paste, 2 pints of water are added. The resulting mixture, which should 

 be as thin as milk and quite as free from lumps, is then boiled, with 

 constant stirring, until it froths up. It is then added to the liver of 

 sulphur solution and mixed thoroughly, when the spray is ready for use. 



The following lirne -sulphur formulae have also proved satis- 

 factory : — 



5 lb. Flour. 2 oz. Flour. 



2 pints Lime-Sulphur (S.G. = 2.3). 1 fluid oz. Lime-!&ulphur 

 100 gallons of water. (S.G. = 1.3). 



2| gallons of water. 

 Two and a half -gallons of spray are prepared as follows : — Two 

 ounces of flour are mixed and boiled in 3 pints of water in the 

 manner described above, and added to 17 pints of water in a bucket. 

 One fluid ounce of lime-sulphur is then added and tlie whole thoroughly 

 stirred. 



The use of these sprays as a means of checking the spread of 

 the fungus has been tested in commercial nurseries with satis- 

 factory results. To be quite effective they should be used at 

 the early stages of the disease, before the fungus has attacked 

 the succulent leaf-stalk and stem tissues. Generally one or 

 two plants are first attacked, and it is better to sacrifice these 

 than to endanger the rest of the plants by allowing the diseased 

 individuals to remain untreated. 



When the disease first appears the plants should be thoroughly 

 sprayed with either of the mixtures recommended, and on the 

 next day every spotted " leaf should be cut out and-burned. 

 This process of spraying and removing the diseased leaves should 

 be repeated again at weekly intervals but generally two applica- 

 tions are enough if the fungus has not entered the petioles or 

 stems. Spraying should be carried out only in the cool of the 

 evening. The next morning the plants should be thoroughly 

 sprayed with water to remove any surplus spray Kquid that may 

 have remained on the plants, and a little ventilation should be 

 allowed. Care should be taken to see that the houses are w^ell 

 shaded, as after this treatment direct sunhght may give rise to 

 scorching. The effect of the spray on cucumber plants is slight, 

 if careful attention is given to the above precautions. Occasion- 

 ally a newiy opened leaf or tendril is burned, but rarely is there 



