APRIL. 
113 
winter, as above described, followed, mildew again made its appearance 
with the commencement of growth on the succeeding spring. From the 
above facts, it will be evident that those who have to deal with plant 
mildews must be constantly on the alert. Dry sulphur is the acknowledged 
remedy for most parasitical mildews with which a gardener has to deal, 
but although this has been so repeatedly recommended, we still find 
many who are totally ignorant how to cope with the Vine mildew. In 
proof of this I may state that so lately as the summer of 1857, I saw 
a beautiful house of Grapes on the verge of ruin. The person in 
charge was anxious enough for the crop, and had doubtless heard 
something of sulphur, for, when I saw them, they had twice been 
syringed with sulphur water. I need not say that the effect was not 
destruction of the mildew, for at the time it was still protruding its white 
surface—apparently in good health—through the brown sulphur which 
adhered to the berries. 0. P. 
[We can verify all our correspondent states as to the spread of 
mildew, and the difficulty of keeping it down on plants suffering from 
other causes. This season we have had a house of early Vines, which 
it has rendered worthless, notwithstanding all our care. Formerly 
these Vines were very vigorous, but two years back, the Grapes 
shanked considerably, and part of them did not colour well. A portion 
of their roots had perished by the choking up of a drain running under¬ 
neath the border. Although this was remedied, the Grapes were 
not good last year ; and were so much affected with mildew (as were all 
our other Vines) that we decided this year to remove them (as we 
wanted to plant the house with Muscats, in place of early Grapes). 
But wishing to get what we could off tne Vines first, we started them 
early ; to our surprise they broke very irregularly. The spurs had 
been left long, as appearance was of no consequence, and yet many of 
them have never broken at all, while buds on the old wood have started ; 
but the most remarkable thing was, that every shoot which broke was 
covered with mildew, from the first, as was the embryo fruit. The 
mildew appeared to develope itself with the growth which it stunted, 
and finally destroyed the bunches and leaves, notwithtstanding our 
repeated applications of sulphur. We shall take up the Vines very 
soon, and shall then perhaps be able to say whether or not the roots 
are also attacked by this vegetable foe. The houses were steep narrow 
houses, with scarcely front ventilation enough. We are now about 
raising the roof, so as to allow of an upright sash in front. With 
us Hollyhocks, Cloves, Carnations, Brompton Stocks, and some other 
plants were all destroyed by mildew last season. 
THE COMING ROSE TOURNAMENT. 
Few recent events in the floral world have come upon us with moie 
delight than the now insured Rose tournament. Who amongst us does 
not look forward to it with anticipations unsurpassed by those enter¬ 
tained for any previous assemblage, fondly trusting that it may fore¬ 
shadow many coming events of like import. 
VOL. XI., NO. CXXIV. 1 
