THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
279 
a large section. In the course of a report 
presented to the agricultural Society j\lr. C. 
Whitehead F.G.S., says that constant applications 
of powdered sulphur keep the Oidium in subject- 
ion in ordinary climatic conditions if they are 
made regularly at certain defined intervals, but 
that sulphur has no effect, or comparatively no 
effect, upon the Peronopora viticola. Sulphate 
of Copper is employed with wonderful results 
against the latter fungus. In France, he tells us, 
it was the custom to sprinkle the grapes by the 
roadside with dust mixed with verdigris to choke 
off marauders; after a time Sulphate of Copper 
being cheaper was used for the purpose. When 
the Peronospora viticola appeared in France 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 M. M. Prilleux, Millardet, 
and Gayon, has been found to be completely satis- 
factory. In 1886 M. M. Prilleux reported to the 
Societe Nationale d Agriculture de France that 
“the numerous experiments made this year have 
demonstrated beyond a doubt the efficacy of salts 
of copper in combating Peivnospora.” 
But it was not for the Vines only that its 
utility was proved. In a series of experiments 
carried out by M. Aime Girard in 1888, 1889, 1890, 
1891 it was shown that sulphate of copper is as 
ftf< rime against the potato mildew ( Phytophtkora 
i.i festans), which has of late years proved itself to 
be such a curse to the potato growers of these 
islands, as it is against the vine mildew. Experi- 
ments were also carried out at the expense of Go- 
vernment in Belgium, the results of which were 
similar in every respect. 
In America too, trials were made in 1889 with 
remarkable success, and at Cape Town the agricul- 
tural journal informs us that “seveial experts have 
tried solutions of blue vitrol with good results on 
enfeebled crops.” 
M. M. Millardet, Gayon, and Schlesing have 
shown that the conidia (the minute spores) of the 
vine mildew cannot germinate in water containing 
the m ist in finitisimal quantity of sulphate of cop- 
per This was proved in the following manner. 
The coni ilia of the fungus sown upon leaves that 
had been treated with iveak sulphate of copper 
solution did not germinate, while conidia sown 
upon leaves untreated with sulphate germinated 
perfectly in rain drops upon their upper surfaces. 
It was found that vine leaves untreated with 
sulphate of copper resisted inoculation by the 
fungus when conidia were sown on their under 
sides where the disease first manifests itself. The 
potato disease first appears upon the under side 
of the leaves and afterwards descends to the tubers. 
Spraying of the plants with a weak solution of 
salts of copper would prevent the establishment 
of the disease, and would at the same time consi 
derably increase the crop. 
The Board of the Royal Agricultural Society of 
Great Britain are convinced that this is a sure 
preventive of the potato disease, and that if adopted 
in the earlier stages it will act as a cure for it. 
Considering the great losses that are annually 
experienced by the potato growers in these islands, 
it would most probably pay them to give this mat- 
ter their serious consideration. 
J. H. C. 
A year’s Insect-hunting at Gibraltar. 
BY JAMES J. WALKEPv, K.N.,F.E.S. 
IV. 
( conclusion ) 
In June, my first noteworthy capture was the 
beautiful little Aurotis roboris, E,, flying about an 
oak tree in the Cork Woods on the 4th, but it ap- 
peared to be rare, and I got only one more, on the 
9th. Vanessa polychloros L., and Gonepteryx 
rliavini , L. (of both of which I had seen hibernated 
examples in the spring), were also taken on the 9th 
and two pretty “Burnets f Zygcenastcechadis, Bork., 
and Sarpedon Hubn., were found, but were scarce 
and local. Catocala paranympha, L., was not 
scarce on the cork trunks, and the little chestnut- 
brown Anthometra plumu/aria, Bdv., was often 
seen flying over broom bushes. Two “clear wrings,” 
Sesia Rarnburi, Staud., and Paranthrene tineifor- 
rnis, E., occurred on the flowers of wild carrot and 
and thyme, which were also frequented by Acontia 
luctuosa, W. V., and Acidalia oinata. Scop. On 
the 18th I took, at Campamento, the only specimen 
of Aryynnis Latona, E., which I have seen in the 
district, and, on the same day, Calias Pdvsa, var. 
Helice, Hb., was common and fine, among myriads 
