254 
Methods of Preventing and Gheckhuj 
inventor is that it is better to apply a mucli stronger wash in 
small quantities, and in dense mists, so that every particle of 
the plant may be bedewed, rather than to send it forth in a 
continuous stream, much of which misses the mark and is simply 
wasted. Moreover, the wash does not remain so well upon the 
leaves if it is dashed against them. This raises the important 
question as to whether sj^raying with mist, or " squirting^" as 
hop-washing is called by many in Kent, with sharp showers is 
better. There seems to be much in the argument practically 
demonstrated by the Strawsonizer. In the Strawsonizer the 
liquid issues from the nozzles in the form of spray propelled by 
a strong current of air. The nozzles are placed at the extremity 
of the air tubes, being fed with the liquid by small pipes con- 
nected with the reservoir, the supply being adjusted by inter- 
vening taps in any quantity fi'om 1 to 80 gallons per acre. 
There are two pairs of nozzles for hop spraying ; the lower 
pair takes the bottom leaves, and the upper pair the higher 
leaves and branches on each side of the machine. It is calculated 
that the '"hop wash"' must be used about ten times as strong as 
that used in ordinary machines, and it is contended that the 
results are equally satisfactory. 
The Hop Mildew (Podosphaera castagnei). 
As in the case of vine mildew (O'idium Tuckeri)^ for which 
sulphur is dusted upon the vines as a preventive measure, many 
hop-planters put finely powdered sulphur upon the hop plants 
as soon as they are up the poles. Some use the finest " flowers" 
of sulphur ; others, a coarser kind of siUphur, probably sulplvjir 
vivum, containing grit or dust. The purest, lightest sulphur, with 
the particles most finely divided so that they may get into the 
interlacing filaments of the mildew, should be used. "Flowers" 
of sulphur combine these qualities. They are the first products 
of the sublimating and refining chambers, and fall during these 
processes in light showers upon the floors and walls. Their 
particles are spheroidal ; to the touch they are unctuous. Sulphur 
vivum is the last product, or dross; it is heavy and has im- 
purities and varying percentages of earthy admixture, shown 
by its grittiness. The particles are of irregular shape, and from 
their weight are more likely to rebound from the leaves when 
blown on them. Sulphur vivum is from 40 to 50 per cent, 
heavier than pure flowers of sulphur, and the amount of sulphur 
in it varies from 50 to G7 per cent., while in good flowers of 
sulphur the percentage is 95 and uj)vvards. 
