392 
June 8 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
much easier work to sit beside the sprayer than to 
“tote” it around ; besides, I can spray the small and 
medium-sized trees much better from an elevated 
position than from the ground. 1 carry a barrel of the 
mixture along with the cart, and find a great saving 
of time in refilling. Of course for large trees, a knap¬ 
sack sprayer will not do. I find that in dissolving a 
quantity of the copperas, it is well to measure the 
quantity of water used ; also that used with the lime 
when slaking, and take out as many gallons of each 
according to the quantity of the ingredients mixed for 
use instead of the more tedious way of weighing the 
lime and copperas for each barrel of the Bordeaux 
Mixture. Above all, use a good pump and a good 
spraying nozzle. I prefer the Vermorel to all others. 
Failure to begin in time, and keep it up, will cause 
some who go into the business of spraying to pro¬ 
nounce it “ no good.’ «• 9- COLE. 
Maryland. 
Strawberries from Seed in 365 Days. —The advice 
of a noted strawberry enthusiast, in regard to grow¬ 
ing seedling strawberries is: “If you wish to grow 
seedling strawberries and have the fewest number to 
discard, cut off one-third of the tip of the berry and 
throw it away ; then take the stem of the berry in the 
left hand between the thumb and finger, and with a 
sharp knife, pare off the skin of the berry, just deep 
enough to get the seeds so as to have as little pulp as 
possible. Then rub the seeds and pulp in dry, fine 
sand or corn meal enough so as to have each seed 
separate (not in bunches of two, three or more), and 
plant in the seedbed which has been previously pre¬ 
pared the same day. It should be well ‘ firmed,’ or 
it will dry out too readily, and seeds cr plants will 
perish. Sow in drills five inches apart, the seed to be 
an inch or more apart, and one-fourth to one-half an 
inch deep. The seedbed should be shaded by fine 
brush or burlap, until the little plants have their 
third leaves pretty well developed. If very hot and. 
dry weather ensues after this stage of growth, they 
should be screened from the sun from 9 A. m. to 4 p. m. 
When the leaves get as large as a quarter of a dollar, 
they should be planted in the fruiting bed one foot 
apart, and carefully cultivated ; or better still, be 
mulched with spent hotbed manure. In all stages of 
growth, they must not be allowed to suffer for lack of 
moisture, or failure will result. By following the 
above instructions, you will have seedling berries in 
365 days or less.” »• D- cottom. 
Ohio. _ 
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE MADE EASY. 
“A PLANT DISEASED!” 
Part IV. 
Strength of the Bordeaux Mixture. 
Last week, we tried to explain what the Bordeaux 
Mixture is, and why it is better than the plain solution 
of copper. It was stated that the authorities do not 
all agree as to the proper strength of the mixture for 
various diseases. In order to enable you to under¬ 
stand this better, we have obtained the opinions of 
some of these authorities. Remember what they say 
about nozzles, for we shall refer to that again : 
We are using the one-half formula of the Bordeaux, 
with four pounds of copper and four pounds of lime, 
making 50 gallons of the mixture, and we find it as 
effectual, and it does not disfigure the apple as the 
standard formula does. We like the McGowen nozzle 
as well as any, and use it continually. It is less liable 
to clog, but, perhaps, does not give quite so fine a 
spray as the Vermorel. s. L. aiaynard. 
Massachusetts Experiment Station. 
I generally advise the following formula for Bor¬ 
deaux Mixture for grapes, potatoes, etc. : Copper sul¬ 
phate, six pounds ; lime (fresh), four pounds ; water, 
45 gallons. A mixture of double this strength, is 
sometimes good for use upon plants which have been 
very badly diseased, and have never before been 
treated ; but, as a general thing, the weaker mixture 
is almost as effective, and costs only half as much. I 
prefer the Vermorel nozzle to any other which I have 
used. It is simple, durable, seldom clogs, is readily 
cleared when it becomes stopped, and delivers a very 
fine spray, thus economizing the liquid. 
Connecticut Ex. Station. w. c. STURGIS. 
In treating the grape, apple, potato, etc., with the 
Bordeaux Mixture, we prefer to use about 40 gallons 
of water to every six pounds of copper sulphate and 
four pounds of quicklime. One reason why we like 
these dilute mixtures, is because we put a great deal 
of liquid upon the plant in order to cover it with 
great thoroughness ; we, therefore, use a compound 
which will do no harm to the foliage, and which is 
cheap. For nearly all purposes, we use the McGowen 
nozzle, although for potatoes, the Vermorel, and 
some other of the small nozzles, are very satisfactorjL 
The McGowen nozzle throws more liquid than many 
others, but it covers the tree quickly, and it does its 
work very well. E- H. bailey. 
Cornell Experiment Station. 
Prof. Beckwith’s Opinion. 
It has always been my practice to use a much larger 
proportion of lime when making the Bordeaux Mix¬ 
ture, than is called for by the standard formula, viz., 
six pounds sulphate of copper and four pounds of lime 
to 22 gallons of water, for the reason that the mixture 
adhered to the foliage better than when the ordinary 
amount was used. We have been using for several 
years what is termed the dilute Bordeaux Mixture— 
six pounds sulphate of copper, and six to nine 
pounds of lime, to 50 gallons of water. There was no 
perceptible difference in the results secured from the 
application of the mixtures. When applying the mix¬ 
ture, we always take pains to drench the trees or 
plants thoroughly at every application. One great 
objection to the use of the strong solution is the item 
of expense. It at least doubles the cost of material, 
and when 500 to 600 pounds of sulphate of copper are 
required for each treatment, it amounts to a consider¬ 
able sum of money during the season. We have also 
noticed in several instances where the strong solution 
has been used, that the surface of the fruit had 
changed to a brown or russet color, which appeared 
to be caused by the mixture. 
We have used nearly every nozzle that is in the 
market, and have yet to see another that, taking 
everything into consideration, will give as good 
satisfaction as the Climax nozzle. The very fine 
and strong spray that it produces, is very important. 
Less material is required to cover the foliage, and at 
the same time it will adhere better and prove more 
effectual than when a greater quantity is thrown 
upon the plants in a coarser spray. It is true this 
nozzle will sometimes become clogged. We have yet 
to see one that will not ; but it is very simple and 
may be readily unscrewed with the hands and cleaned 
in a very short time. The Climax nozzle, when used 
upon the end of a 10 or 12-foot piece of galvan’zed 
iron pipe screwed upon the end of the hose, can be 
very readily handled when spraying large trees. We 
are very much pleased with the McGowen nozzle, but 
it is not so economical of the material as is the Climax, 
and under similar adverse conditions, we have not 
found it any more satisfactory. 
Delaware Experiment Station. 
Mr. Geo. T. Powell’s Experience. 
After trying solutions of different strength of Bor¬ 
deaux Mixture, I have adopted the following : Six 
pounds of sulphate of copper, 4% pounds of lime, 45 
gallons of water. The old formula with 22 gallons of 
water, often proved damaging to the foliage, and also 
to the fruit. Without some thorough means for 
agitating the mixture, materials would settle, and in 
spraying, the last half would be too concentrated, and 
injury would be done. The essential point for success 
in using Bordeaux Mixture, is to begin the work 
early in the development of fungous diseases. In the 
early development, the weaker solution represented 
in the above formula, is quite as effective as a 
stronger, with no danger to foliage or fruit ; while, if 
the spraying be delayed until apple and pear scab and 
grape rot are fully developed, a solution strong enough 
to destroy the disease, will also do considerable in¬ 
jury. I use this same formula upon potatoes, not 
waiting for the evidence of blight to appear, but 
apply just before bloom, and again after, while the 
foliage is healthy. It is too late to apply any strength 
of solution when potato blight has made its appear¬ 
ance. Too weak a solution will not destroy the dis¬ 
ease germ or spore, while too strong will do as much 
injury as good. I apply the above formula to grapes, 
apples, pears, quinces and potatoes with good results. 
I find the McGowen nozzle superior to anything I 
have used for Bordeaux spraying. By a spring adjust¬ 
ment, any clogging sediment can be blown through 
the nozzle, thus avoiding perplexity and delay. It 
throws the spray over a greater surface and a longer 
distance, and may be graduated to a very fine mist. 
Above all,.thoroughness in making the application, is 
of vital importance. 
Columbia County, N. Y. 
What S. D. Willard Says. 
My experience in using Bordeaux Mixture, has been 
confined to its application to the gooseberry for mil¬ 
dew. and apple and pear for scab. For these pur¬ 
poses, the solution has been made of four pounds of 
copper sulphate, three pounds of lime, to 45 gallons 
of water. I have often found the addition of more 
lime necessary, hence I am inclined to think there 
must be a difference in the potency of the lime to 
neutralize the acid in the copper sulphate, as I find 
different experiences with others as regards this. 
This solution has been a success with me in treating 
the diseases referred to. In general, I am opposed to 
the use of too strong solutions of any kind for spray¬ 
ing, believing that it is wise to be conservative until 
a more extended experience has added to our knowl¬ 
edge in this line. I have seen instances where the 
surface of fruit has been injured, as I thought, by the 
use of six pounds of copper sulphate. I have six dif¬ 
ferent nozzles, and for all purposes rather like best 
one obtained from the Gould Manufacturing Co. 
Simplicity is an important essential in every mechan¬ 
ical appliance placed in the hands of laboring men, 
who are quite likely to get everything out of order 
without the ingenuity to restore again to normal con¬ 
ditions. This is one of the reasons why I like this 
nozzle better than some others. 
Ontario County, N. Y. 
THE BEST STUMP PULLER. 
The R. N.-Y. says, “We wish to know what you 
have actually done.” I have “actually” pulled a great 
many stumps in clearing a farm of 50 acres from the 
dense forest. Only six stumps are left on the whole 
area. A really practical thing is simply a good stout 
rope 80 or 100 feet long—a hay-fork rope is just the 
thing. Cut a strong, hard-wood lever 8 or 10 feet long; 
tie the rope to the top end, then set the lever upright 
against the stump and fasten with a chain near the 
top of the stump. Put the team at the end of the rope 
where the draft will be nearly level, and over it 
comes. If it fail to come at first, a little digging on 
the back side, and cutting a few roots will help it 
out. Fig. 125 shows what I mean. When the work is 
very heavy, I use blocks, the lower one chained to a 
solid stump in the vicinity. J. eddy. 
Aroostook County, Me. 
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piece of paper.] 
Insects On Georgia Melons. 
A. W. S., Americus. Ga. —The Government sent a representative 
to “ investigate the insect which was damaging the watermelon 
crop” in the South. His report was that it was the ‘-common 
black beetle.” As usual, in the case of public functionaries, he 
knew exactly how ‘‘not to do it.” Had he looked deeper into the 
matter, or, at least deeper into the soil, he would have found the 
real cause of the trouble. I send with this a box containing a vial 
in which will be found the real cause of the destruction of the 
watermelons in this locality. What I send you, and many more 
were in one hill, and were found, not on the plant or on the sur¬ 
face, but from one-quarter to one inch below the surface. At 
night, they will come up and suck the juice from the leaves, while 
during the day, they go below thesurface, and suck the juice from 
the stem of the plant. 
ANSWERED BY M. V. SLINGERLAND. 
As the specimens prove, there are two different, 
but closely allied, beetles at work on the vines. 
Judging from the specimens, the species doing the 
greater part of the damage, is the well-known and 
widely distributed Striped Cucumber beetle (Diabro- 
tica vittata). There were also a few specimens of the 
Twelve-spotted Diabrotica (D. 12-punctata). The latter 
insect does not often attack melon or cucumber vines, 
but in its larval or grub state, it works great havoc in 
corn fields as a Corn-root worm. The beetles hiber¬ 
nate and attack almost any vegetation that appears in 
the spring, in one instance doing great damage to fruit 
trees by eating into the opening buds. 
The Striped Cucumber beetle is familiar to nearly 
every melon, cucumber, or squash grower, as the 
small, narrow, yellow beetle with three black stripes 
along its back. The beetles come forth in May very 
hungry from their long winter fast which was passed 
in some sheltered nook. They then attack plants of 
various kinds, but when the curcubitaceous vines 
appear, seemingly nothing else will satisfy them, and 
they sometimes appear by the score on a single hill. 
