Cantaloupes. 13 
These estimates, together with those for 1899 at Mr. 
Fenlason’s, cover the cost at all stages of the melon’s growth, 
and from this one can tell approximately what the cost will 
be, taking into consideration the size of the vines. The 
price of copper sulphate (blue stone) is assumed to be ten 
cents per pound in these estimates. 
Our appliance for doing the work in 1900 was a plat¬ 
form arranged on two wheels of a grain drill, upon which 
was a barrel containing a spray pump. Two lengths of hose 
were attached to the pump, sufficient to cover from 4 to 6 
rows at a time, depending upon their size. The double-trees 
were spread to correspond with the width of the wheels and 
allowed the team and cart to spread over one row. 
ACTION OF THE FUNGICIDE. 
The object in applying the fungicide is to destroy the 
fungus without injuring the plant tissue. Further infection 
will be prevented and the tissue that the parasite would 
otherwise appropriate will be left to perform the functions, 
of the plant. 
The Bordeaux mixture is a combination of copper 
sulphate (blue stone), lime and water. The lime unites 
with the sulphuric acid, forming gypsum, and the copper is 
left in an insoluble condition which the gypsum tends to 
cement to the leaf. The carbonic acid of the air and the 
ammonia of the rain and dew dissolve slight amounts of the 
copper. It is very essential, when preparing this mixture, 
to use plenty of lime—an excess will do no harm. Experi¬ 
ments have shown that when an excess is used the copper 
is slower dissolved and, consequently, held on the plant 
longer. There are a number of ways the copper may act 
upon the fungus. 
The spores may be prevented from germinating . by 
inhibitory action; the spores may be killed outright before 
germination has commenced; the germ may be so weakened 
as to be unable to enter the host plant; or the presence of 
the copper on the leaf may impede the fruiting of the fungus 
already within the tissue of the plant. I believe the efficacy 
of the spray is due to the destruction of a considerable 
portion of the fungus growth present and to the prevention 
of the germination of the spores upon the new tissue. That 
the spray quickly prevents the enlargement of the spots is. 
plainly to be seen. 
The spores of the fungus, no doubt, germinate, grow 
and produce spores in a few days, but this period of growth 
may be hastened or greatly retarded by the weather con- 
