740 JOUENAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of such a construction as to deliver the liquid in as finely divided a state 

 as possible, fog or mist being the ideal condition. 



Attempting to spray with a fine syringe is practically of no use, as 

 the liquid accumulates in drops and rolls off a smooth leaf, whereas a 

 hairy or downy leaf is not wetted. 



The fungicide sprayed on foliage does not only destroy all germinating 

 spores present on the leaves at the time of application, but it dries on the 

 leaf and destroys any spores that germinate until it is removed by rain 

 syringing, &c. Bordeaux mixture is undoubtedly the most effective 

 fungicide, and is of inestimable service for spraying nursery stock, fruit- 

 trees, Tomatos, &c., but it cannot be used in conservatories, public parks, 

 or show-places, on account of the disfigurement caused by the solution of 

 lime present in the mixture. 



Mulching is almost universally acknowledged as beneficial, being at 

 the same time protective and nutritive. Undoubtedly it is of great value 

 if applied in a proper manner and at the proper time. When mulching 

 is allowed to remain after it is sodden and compact it prevents the neces- 

 sary aeration of the soil, which in consequence becomes sour ; the roots 



Fig. 312.— Diagram illustrating different Methods of Mulching. 



The left-hand figure illustrates a way often practised, and it will be observed that 

 the young and active roots are neither protected from frost nor fed by the drainage 

 from the manure. When the manure is placed in a ring at some distance from the 

 trunk, as in the right-hand figure, both these objects are accomplished. 



are thus prevented from performing their proper functions, and as a 

 result the foliage becomes soft and is rendered very susceptible to the 

 attacks of fungi. Opinions differ as to the proper time for mulching, 

 some advocating autumn, others spring. When done in the autumn 

 most of the nutriti^'e element is lost, as when the leaves are absent the 

 root is comparatively inactive ; and from the protective point of view 

 fibre keeps out more frost than compact manure. The only reason given 

 by some gardeners for autumn mulching is lack of time for carrying out 

 the operation in the spring. When mulching is done in the spring the 

 active roots benefit by the manure, and the young shoots, as in the case 

 of Asparagus, &c., are at the same time protected. 



In the case of nursery stock, fruit-trees, &c., mulching is mainly 

 done from a manurial point of view, and in too many instances the 

 manure is placed close up to the trunk. Now the drainage from manure 

 in this position misses the root in soaking through the soil. The proper 

 position for the ring of manure is shown in the right-hand diagram, 

 where its drainage is immediately over the active portions of the root. 



Remembering the fact that wound-parasites can only gain an 



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