December 19, 1889. 1 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
539 
solutions, and dilute with cold water to make twenty-two gallons of 
liquid. 
I believe, however, that the ammoniacal solution of carbonate of 
copper will be found as efficient a fungicide as the Bordeaux mixture, 
and it has the advantage of being more readily prepared and more 
easily distributed in spray. Its formula is carbonate of copper, 3 ozs. ; 
ammonia, one quart ; mix. The copper carbonate will dissolve almost 
at once in the ammonia liquor. Then dilute this mixture with cold 
water to make twenty-two gallons of liquid. 
From sundry experiments which I have made this year, and which I 
have reported in detail to the United States Department of Agriculture, 
I conclude that it is the copper in solution which is specifically anti¬ 
dotal to fungus germs, and not the other component, sulphuric acid, of 
the sulphate. In experimenting on treatment of the black rot of the 
Grape I tried quite extensively a mixture made similarly to the Bor¬ 
deaux mixture, only substituting sulphate of iron (copperas) for the 
copper sulphate. Tnis mixture had no effect whatever in prevention of 
Grape rot. I saw some benefit from its use, however, in prevention of 
leaf mildew, and it is quite likely that it may be found sufficiently 
effective for treatment of the blights of the Potato and Tomato. It is 
much cheaper, pulverised sulphate of copper costing about 8 cents, 
per lb., while copperas costs only seven-eighths of 1 cent per lb. 
Further experiments are required to teach which of these fungicides 
may be the preferable one, and for what uses. Certain fungi will 
endure with impunity applications under which others will perish, and 
certain varieties of plants are damaged by chemical solutions which do 
not harm others. Thus, the Tomato plant will not tolerate a spraying 
Bordeaux mixture as it is used for the Potato. The mixture for the 
Tomato must be reduced in strength at least one-half. Nor will Yitis 
aestivalis endure spraying with copper sulphate mixtures, which do not 
injure the vegetation of Vitis Labrusca. 
My counsel to those who purpose engaging in these vegetable 
therapeutics is to go slow. When all ready for spraying try only a few 
patients at first, and wait to note the effects of the medicine. Other¬ 
wise there is great danger of learning pathological wisdom as did the 
quack doctor who found out in his practice that “ what cured the 
shoemaker killed the tailor.”—A. W. Pearson, Vineland, N.J, (in 
American Garden and Forest). 
LIQUORICE (GLYCYRIIIZA GLABRA). 
ITS CULTURE AND USES. 
Pontefract and its immediate neighbourhood is probably the 
only district in the kingdom where this plant is grown to perfec¬ 
tion. Liquorice requires a great depth of soil, as the length of the 
roots, which is the only valuable part of the plant, varies from 3 to 
6 feet in length, and I have seen it 9 feet in length. 
Pontefract has ever been noted for its rich fertile soil, as well as 
its pure bracing atmosphere. Fruit and vegetables are produced in 
abundance, and the excellent quality of both is demonstrated by 
the ready sale effected at the neighbouring markets. The ingenious 
Thomas Fuller has styled Pontefract “the garden of England,” 
and the poet Lund, in the early part of the century, expressed him¬ 
self in the following lines 
“ If situation hath a power to please, 
If air salubrious can give us ease, 
If spacious streets and handsome houses joined 
Can satisfaction raise within the mind ; 
If noble ruins, mouldering fast with rust, 
Where ancient monarchs mingled with the dust ; 
If gardens all around can please the eye, 
Embellished o’er with Flora’s painted dye ; 
If peace and plenty, which doth here abide 
(Laying all pique and prejudice aside). 
If charms as these are worthy of my song, 
Come here ye grave, ye gay, ye old and young—• 
Come here and view the subject of my theme, 
Confess that Pomfret’s worthy your esteem.” 
When the Liquorice plant was first introduced is somewhat 
uncertain, it having been cultivated for a long period, but never to 
the extent it is at the present time. There is now a great acreage 
under cultivation, giving employment to a large number of people. 
Any approximation to this number would be difficult, inasmuch as 
during the two first years the spaces between the beds are utilised 
in growing vegetables, generally early Potatoes the first year and 
Cabbages the second. The protection of the Liquorice beds enables 
these crops to come to early maturity ; the extreme fertility of the 
soil, with these advantages, produces a splendid quality. The 
land for the culture of Liquorice is worked entirely with the 
spade. After the two first years the Liquorice requires the whole 
space of the land, inasmuch as it makes too much top to allow of 
anything else being grown. The fourth year brings it to per¬ 
fection. 
It is planted in raised beds on rows 2 feet apart. Three hundred 
of these beds constitute a quarter. These quarters are planted 
year after year successively, thus each year brings one quarter to 
maturity. Condition of seasons favourable to the plant:—Should 
the two first seasons after planting be moderately wet, and the 
two latter inclined to dryness, the result is so much more satisfac¬ 
tory. The season for planting is the early part of April; the season 
for taking up or trenching out is from the middle of September 
onwards. 
After the root is taken up it is stored in cool warehouses or 
cellars in sand, until opportunity offers for dressing. This consists 
of taking off all small fibrous roots, buds, and runners from the 
rod. The small fibres are ground up into liquorice powder, and 
used for medicinal purposes. The buds and runners are then faced 
and preserved in sand, ready for planting. The rod is pounded by 
machinery, and the saccharine extract is refined and made into the 
FIG. 69.— LIQUORICE (GLYCYRHIZA GLABRA). 
celebrated Pomfret cakes. This industry is the staple trade of the 
good old town of Pontefract.— John Hillaby, jun. 
EUPATORIUMS. 
The notes by Mr. Muir and “ W. S.” on these plants are quite 
seasonable. It is, indeed, a wonder that these plants are not more 
numerously cultivated. There is one objection to the earliest flowering 
variety which commences in October, and which I have always known 
by the name of E. odoratum—that is, the flowers are a dirty white,, 
which is certainly a blemish. I know ladies object to this simply on 
account of its colour. Whether or not this is the correct name the 
flowers answer very well to the name, but although scented it is not of 
the most agreeable character. For freedom in flowering and the time 
the plants last in bloom this variety is perhaps the most useful, but for 
making a greater show I prefer E. Weinemannianum, although this 
■ comes in at a time when other flowers are more numerous. We have 
