the Attacks oj Insects and Fungi. 
225 
sprinkle the grapes by the roadsides with dust mixed with 
verdigris to choke off marauders ; after a time sulphate of 
copper, being cheaper, was used for this pui-pose. When the 
Peronospora viticola appeared in the country, in 1878, it was 
remarked that its effect upon the vines thus treated was modified, 
also that the leaves kept normally green.' This led to the trial 
of sulphate of copper as a remedy, which, owing mainly to the 
energy of I\IM. Prillieux, ^Millardet, and Gayon, has been found 
to be completely satisfactory. In 1886 M. Prillieux reported, 
at a seance of the Societe Xationale d'Agriculture de France, 
that " the numerous experiments made this year have demon- 
strated beyond doubt the efiicacy of salts of copper in combating 
the Feronospora of the vine.'" At the same smnce M. Prillieux 
strongly advised that careful experiments should be made to 
prove whether this remedy would be efficacious against the 
potato mildew (Pliytopldliora infestans) causing the potato 
disease. He stated that two or three experiments were made 
in 1886, but, as the conditions were not satisfactory, the results 
could not be accepted as in any way decisive. Upon M. Pril- 
lieux's recommendation experiments have been made in various 
parts of France, among which stands ])re-eminently a series 
carried out by M. Aime Girard in 1888, 1889, and 1890. These 
show plainly that sulphate of copper is as effectual against the 
potato mildew as against the vine mildew. Experiments carried 
out in Belgium at the State Agricultural School at Gembloux, 
under the direction of M. Petermann. and those conducted b}^ 
M. Tliienpont at Etichoe in East Flanders.^ and others under 
the direction of the Agricultural Society of East Flanders at 
Ghent,"* also proved that this mildew 3nelds to treatment with 
salts of copper. In America, trials in this direction undertaken 
in 1889 were satisfactory, and it is learnt from an agricultural 
journal published at Cape Town, Africa, that " several experts 
have tried solutions of blue vitriol with good results on enfeebled 
potato crops." The experiments have only lately been conducted ; 
the reports are, however, favourable without exception.'^ 
It has been shown by researches made by MM. Millardet, 
' Traitement du Mildew par le Melange de Sulfate de Cinvre et de Chavx. 
Par D. Jouet. Annales de Vliutitut Agronomique, 188fi. 
- Bulletin des Seaiices de la Socivti Nationale d' Agriculture de France. 
No. 10. Ann^e 1886. 
' Le Traitemciit de la Maladie de la Poinme de Terre pendant I'annee 1890, 
par E. Thienpont. Bnixelles. 
* Itapport de la Societe Agricole de la Flandre Oricntale sur VEfat de V Agri- 
culture dans la Province pendant Vannee 1890. 
' Agricultural Journal. Published by the Departmect of Agriculture of 
the Cape Colony. December, 1890. 
