February 11, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
103 
Carnation or Picotee in these smaller pots, with from six to ten or 
twelve lovely flowers, is a sight for anyone, and most easily obtained 
if the plants are secured and potted up iu time and are properly 
looked after.—W. D. 
EXPERIMENTS IN TREATING THE POTATO 
DISEASE. 
(^Continued from page 89.') 
In the “Journal of Mycology,” vol. vii., No. 1, we find the follow¬ 
ing report of “Experiment in Treating the Potato Rot,” by Professor Goff, 
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A. 
The only fungicide tested in this experiment was the Bordeaux 
mixture. (The Bordeaux mixture in this case was made by slaking 
6 lbs. of lime in one vessel and dissolving I lbs. of copper sulphate in 
another, uniting the contents of the two vessels on the cooling of the 
lime, and diluting the whole with water to 22 gallons). It will be noted 
that this is a distinct departure from the usual formula in preparing the 
Bordeaux mixture. Mr. Galloway’s, the usual Bordeaux mixture used 
in America, consists of copper sulphate 6 lbs., lime 4 lbs., and water 
22 gallons, but in the mixture used by Prof. Goff in treating the Potato 
rot the lime is increased and the copper sulphate decreased 2 lbs. respec¬ 
tively, the substances reversing places. This makes the mixture less 
than a 2 per cent, solution of copper sulphate, which was thoroughly 
effectual in protecting the Potato plants, and is mentioned as it con¬ 
firms the views of German scientists, also work done at St. Michael’s 
Experimental Station, and experiments performed by Quantin, Mason, 
and others, that the formula for Bordeaux mixture may be modified, 
greatly lessening the amount of copper. These experiments point to 
Bordeaux mixture containing one-fourth to one-eighth the usual amount 
of copper as giving results equivalent to the regular formula. French 
scientists do not agree with those deductions. Though allowing that a 
If to 2 per cent, solution of copper sulphate may in some circumstances 
be sufficient, they generally agree that a 2f to 3 per cent, amount of 
copper sulphate is necessary to effectively protect the Potato plant from 
the fungus, and Professor Goff’s experiments prove conclusively that 
where the mixture was applied at full strength the best results were 
secured. These points will come out in the report of the experiment. 
The plat selected for the experiment included about half an acre of 
ground nearly in the form of a square, and was planted with Soowflake 
Potatoes, May 31st, the seed being placed in hills 3J feet apart each 
way. Five rows extending through the centre of the plat in each 
direction were staked off as a check area, the four corner plats thus 
separated being subjected to the treatment. The S. W. plat was treated 
with the Bordeaux mixture at full strength, for the N.E. plat the 
mixture was diluted about one-fourth, for the S.E. plat about one-third, 
and for the N.W. plat about one-half. The first treatment was given 
July 3rd, at which time the plants were 3 to 1.5 inches high, and 
apparently healthy. Other treatments were given July 14th and 25th, 
August 6th and 19th, and September 2nd. 
More or less of the mixture was visible at all times after the first 
spraying until the crop was harvested. At the time of the fifth spray¬ 
ing (August 19th) it was evident that the treatment was bearing fruit, as 
the foliage of the check rows was turning yellow and in spots becoming 
brown and apparently dying, while that of the treated portions was still 
fresh and green. At the last spraying (September 2nd) the effect of the 
treatment was still more marked, the vines in the check rows being 
mostly dead or severely blighted, while very little of the blight was 
visible on the treated plats. 
During my visit to Mr. Hatch’s place in the latter part of September, 
the check rows were conspicuous by their brown and dry appearance at 
a distance of several rods from the field, while the plants in the treated 
areas were still for the most part green and growing. A frost occurred 
September 28th, which destroyed most of the surviving foliage. 
October 9th to 15th the Potatoes in the various plats were dug, assorted, 
counted, measured, and weighed. The numerical data appear in the 
following table :— 
places. The number recorded in the table represented the hills that 
matured their crop, as determined by counting before the Potatoes 
were dug. 
As the check rows traversed the whole planted area in both direc¬ 
tions, we are justified in assuming that they represented an average of 
the whole plat so far as the conditions of soil and culture were con¬ 
cerned, and that any difference in the yield of these rows, and that of 
the average of the four treated plats, when calculated to a given 
number of hills was due to the treatment. In other words, had each of 
the four treated plats contained the same number of hills as the check 
rows, the aggregate yield from them would have bsen, without treat¬ 
ment, approximately four times as much as that from the check rows. 
Considering the yield of merchantable Potatoes, then, the four treated 
plats would have yielded without the treatment 4 X 698, or 2792 lbs., 
whereas they actually yielded 4295 lbs., an increase, presumably due 
to the treatment, of 1503 lbs., a fraction over 25 bushels. From the 
figures, it would appear that the applications to the south-west plat, in 
which the fungicide was used at full strength, were most effectual, and 
that for the Potato the Bordeaux mixture should not be diluted. 
The cost of the treatment was approximately as follows :— 
69 lbs. copper sulphate at 9 cents (4jd.) .. j56'21 = (£1 5 lOJ) 
24 hours labour at 15 cents. (74d.) .. .. 3’60 = (£'J 15 0) 
Lime and labour of preparation. 0- 60 = (£0 2 1) 
Total. ^10’31 = (£2 2 Hi) 
From which it appears that the treatment, though made with a 
small hand force pump, and in the most thorough manner, was more 
than compensated lor by the increased yield secured. 
It should be added that more of the Potatoes were decayed at the 
time of digging, and that there were no indications that the blight which 
so seriously affected the foliage of Potatoes the past season on the check 
rows of our experimental flat, and throughout Southern Wisconsin, was 
connected in any way with the Potato-rot fungus, Phytophthora 
infestans ; but whatever the affecting disease was, it is evident that 
the treatment proved a remedy for it.—G. Abbey, 
(To be continued.) 
Yields calculated to a uni¬ 
form number of hiUs. 
Flat. 
No of 
hills. 
Merchantable 
yield. 
Total yield. 
Merchantable 
Tot.U. 
No. 
Weight 
No. 
Weight 
No. 
Weight 
No. 
Weight 
N.E. comer .. 
321 
2255 
Founds 
835 
6815 
Founds 
1133 
2669 
Pounds 
988 
8068 
Founds 
1310 
N.W. comer.. 
287 
2530 
871 
6455 
1102 
3350 
1049 
8547 
1459 
S.E. corner .. 
340 
2176 
903 
7462 
1320 
2132 
1009 
8340 
1475 
S.W. comer .. 
343 
3075 
1127 
6905 
1367 
3407 
1249 
7650 
1514 
Check. 
333 
2125 
698 
62C0 
1000 
2125 
698 
6230 
1000 
The unequal number of hills in the different plats arose from two 
causes—viz., the whole area was not quite regular in outline, an 1, as the 
ground was a little slopiog, the heavy June rains washed out some hills in 
GRAPES FOR EXHIBITION. 
[Bead at the Bournemouth and District Gardeners'Association, Jan. 20th, 1892, by 
Mr. C. Warden.] 
In a paper of this kind it is impossible to do other than simply refer 
in the briefest manner to the several subjects brought under notice, for 
to go fully into each would occupy more time than is allowed. I would 
not have it set forth that to gain prizes at our horticultural exhibitions 
it is required that the Grapes should be grown specially for that 
purpose, although there a few who show whose main object is the gain¬ 
ing of prizes, and not the supply of Grapes for an employer’s table. 
Happily they are the exception and not the rule. My object, and that 
of many others, is the production of a full crop of Grapes of the highest 
quality, so that a few from amongst them may be selecced for staging 
at shows. To prepare for this selection it is necessary that all be 
treated carefully and well, not allowing the smallest bunches to be 
roughly handled ; so that where a few good bunches can be cut, generally 
speaking, many might be found with but a degree or two of rnerit 
dividing them. In such instances the employer is in reality the gainer, 
for he not only has the prize bunches, but the whole crop is of equal 
The question will here present itself. What should be considered a 
full crop of Grapes ? To this I must say that my view of this falls short 
of what some market men think a full crop—namely, one and sometimes 
two bunches to every lateral. In deciding this point, much will depend 
upon the strength and vigour of the Vine in question, some being capable 
of carrying much more than others. A healthy Vine with plenty of 
lateral room will carry and perfect 2 lbs of Grapes to every foot run of 
rod, bringing them, under good treatment, to a high state of perfection. 
Having gone thus far, as an introductory part, I will take that which, 
in the ordinary course of things, should come first viz., mat ing the 
borders—for I believe in making the medium to one’s liking. With 
very few exceptions it will be found best to concrete and well drain the 
bottom, for when this is properly done we know exactly where the 
roots are, so that it is a comparatively easy matter to give them what 
they require. I do not think it makes much difference whether the 
border is inside or out, so long as they have the kind of treatment they 
require. But I prefer half inside and half out, in which case the Vines 
would be planted inside, and we avoid the anxiety caused by the 
lower part of the stems being exposed to frost, which is only too often 
the case, while their heads are protected under a heated structure. 
Another advantage is gained by being able to lift half the roots one year 
and the other half at S9me future date, should that course be found 
nec^ssary^ might with advantage here be given as to the size of bonders, 
for I am of opinion that they are generally made too large. When 
made from 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches in depth, independent of drainage, 
there is no necessity, in my opinion, for their being ® 
width of the area the Vines are to cover, and l am sure, where Vines 
have all the attention they need as to watering and are not likey to be 
neglected in that way, a fourth the width of the house would be much 
better. The system of adding a slice in the way of new loam to a Vine 
border every year is very good for a time, as the new loam is knoivn to 
