Sulphate of Coppei' as a Remedi/ against Potato Disease. \^[ 
ever, in no sense a cure ; it was 
prophylactic — fungicide, infismuch as 
designed to destroy the spores which 
promote the disease. He wished to 
say for the Journal Comreitteo that 
this was no new matter to them, for 
the subject was brought forward in 
the Journal in December of last year. 
The composition of the remedy known 
as " Bouillie Bordelaise " was given 
iu the Society's Journal as 6 lb. of 
lime, 6 lb. of sulphate of copper (t.^"., 
common blue vitriol, the blue-stone 
of commerce), and ten gallons of 
water. It was said that this applica- 
tion must be repeated as occasion 
required. He had inquired as to the 
expense of the material ; and found 
it given as from 17^. to 25Z. per ton 
for the blue-stone. 
Mr. AsHWORTH said that, as the 
mixture should be applied during the 
early growth of the potato, and as 
the matter was of the greatest in- 
terest, it seemed a pity to delay 
operations for a month. Could not 
the Sub-Committee be empowered to 
commence at once, without waiting 
for the passing of the grant at the 
next meeting of tlie Council ? 
Mr. Whitehead said the treat- 
ment was mainly preventive, and 
should be applied as soon as the 
plants were about 2 ft. high. It was, 
therefore, of great importance that 
the question should be settled at once, 
and that action should be taken as 
soon as possible. This year, however, 
the potato plants were verj' late, and 
he thought that there would be no 
harm done if the matter were post- 
poned until the next meeting of the 
Council, under the circumstances of 
the late season. As to the preventive 
or curative properties, there were 
proofs on both sides. It was un- 
doubtedly preventive, and it might 
cure the fungus if it had not got to a 
certain stage. Most interesting ex- 
periments had been made by French 
chemists with regard to this, especi- 
ally by M. Schloesing, who treated 
the leaves of the vine with ^^ulphate 
of copper, as well as with the 
" Bouillie Bordelaise." He sowed 
germs of fungus upon the leaf so 
treated, and they did not germinate 
at all. He sowed some at the same 
time upon leaves not treated with 
sulphate of copper, and these germs 
immediately or soon after get' 
minated. 
Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell said that 
in 1 888 he passed about three weeks 
during the early part of the vintage 
in the Medoc district, and had the 
opportunity of seeing tlic different 
vineyards. Nobody could have con- 
ceived the difference between those 
not treated, those partially done, and 
those well done. The difference 
between them was perfectly incon- 
ceivable. He had talked to a great 
many owners and managers of vine- 
yards, who were strongly in favour of 
the remedy. 
Earl Cathcaet asked if the Board 
of Agriculture intended to circulate 
a leaflet on the subject. 
Mr. Whitehead replied that a 
leaflet was now in preparation, and 
would, he believed, be issued in a few 
days. 
Mr. Stratton suggested that 
leaflets with an epitome of the evi- 
dence which had been placed before 
them that day should be circulated 
with the next number of the Journal. 
Sir Nigel Kingscote said that if 
it was only a question of finance that 
would stop the experiments, he 
thought he might sa}-, on behalf of 
the Finance Committee, that they 
would not place any obstacle in the 
way. 
Earl Cathcart said it was thought 
that tiie Board of Agriculture would 
contribute largely towards the ex- 
pense. 
The Secretary pointed out that 
if it were the unanimous wish of the 
Council to grant the money for the 
experiments, they had power under 
the bye-laws to vote it at once. 
Mr. Dext then formally moved. 
Lord Brougham and Vaux seconded, 
and it was unanimously resolved 
that a sum not exceeding 300/. should 
be placed at the disposal of the 
Seeds and Plant Diseases Committee, 
for the purpose of the experiments 
proposed. 
The President said that it was a 
sufficient proof of the importance of 
the subject that questions had been 
asked in both Houses of Parliament, 
and that satisfactory answers had 
been given by Her Majesty's Alinisters. 
He took the opportunity, in putting 
the motion for the adoption of the 
