I- 7. 1904. 
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6 . ( 
Views and Reviews, 
Destroying Slime on Ponds. 
Last year we made brief reference to a 
method of destroying algae and other low 
vegetation on the surface of ponds and sheets 
of ornamental water. These low forms of 
vegetable life are usually spoken of as green 
scum or slime. Many of them consist of 
algae, but- others belong to a much higher 
class of plants.. For instance, there are four 
or five members of the Lemnaceae natives of 
this country, although only one of them may 
be described a® particularly common. Never¬ 
theless, this one multiplies so rapidly on 
some still waters- as to completely cover the 
surface and become a nuisance to all other 
vegetation, besides being unsightly. Many 
of the algae consist of Vaucheria and 
Spirogyra, both of which consist- of long, 
green thread-like filaments, which grow in 
dense masses and obstruct light- from other 
vegetation. On shallower pools we have 
seen the surface entirely covered with a 
small, nearly globular green organism known 
as Euglena viridis*, which is usually claimed 
as an, alga. 
The reference Ve made last year was to a, 
note of advice by Mr. Wm. Tricker, the 
water-plant, specialist in America, who was 
giving- advice how to clear the surface of 
Water Lily ponds- in a ready or wholesale 
manner. He claimed that if this was 
properly done', the Bordeaux mixture would 
destroy all the lower organisms and leave 
the surface: of the water clear. This being a. 
relatively new proceeding, the growers of 
Water Lilies would necessarily hesitate 
before adopting it. Since then, however, 
more numerous experiments, have been, made 
in the United States-, and the experimenters, 
it would seem, have gone much further in 
the matter, and are finding new uses for the 
fungicide in question. 
A new name will, however, have to be in¬ 
vented for it, and, in fact, one has already 
been given, namely, germicide, because it is 
being used for the purpose of destroying 
fever germs or microbes' in drinking water. 
These germs would also- be of vegetable 
origin, though the name germicide would 
not- he particularly applicable to the destruc¬ 
tion of algae and higher plants growing on 
the surface of ponds. 
The experiments in killing germs in drink¬ 
ing water to which we have referred are 
being carried on at the experiment stations, 
agricultural colleges, and at some water¬ 
works. The authorities have given, no ex¬ 
planation or information about, such experi¬ 
ments!, because they have not yet reached 
the stage of putting it, into actual practice 
and -making it public, Professor B. T. Gal¬ 
loway, of the U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry, 
has, however, recently referred to these ex¬ 
periments in the “ Chicago Tribune.” His 
statement- is to the effect- that not only will 
the- slimy green algae on the surface of water 
be destroyed, but that the germs* of typhoid 
and malaria in water can also be destroyed 
by dilute solutions of the Bordeaux Mixture. 
The officials in connection with reservoirs 
for the supply of drinking water at certain of 
the American cities are not yet prepared to 
recommend the general public to make ex¬ 
periments with drinking water until the sub¬ 
ject has been more fully investigated. They 
state that one part of the solution in ten 
million parts of water is sufficient to kill 
germs, hut it has not- yet been determined 
what strength would still be dangerous to\ 
those using the water. 
For use as, a fungicide, the formula, for 
Bordeaux Mixture* is 45 gallons* of water, 
6 lb. of copper sulphate, and 4 lb. of fresh 
lime. Another formula given by the De¬ 
partment of Agriculture is 50 gallons of 
water, 6 lb. of copper sulphate, and 4 lb. of 
fresh lime. To* make the* mixture, 25 gallons 
of water should he poured into a vessel suffi¬ 
cient- to* hold 50 gallons. The sulphate of 
copper o*r blue stone is then pounded up 
fine, placed in a coarse sack and suspended 
in the barrel to dissolve. The sack is in¬ 
tended to filter out any impurities or lumps 
that do not dissolve. In cold water sul¬ 
phate of copper takes an hour or more 
to dissolve*. The fresh lime is put into 
another barrel or vessel and small quan¬ 
tities of water at a time are poured on it to 
slack it uniformly, so- that- it may be as free 
from grit as* possible. When the lime is 
sufficiently slacked sufficient- water isi added 
to make* 25 gallons. After these two pro¬ 
cesses have been effected, the one liquid is 
poured into the* other and constantly and 
thoroughly stirred together. To* be certain 
that the mixture is completely effected so as 
to* he safe to* the plants on which it is used, 
the blade of a steel knife should be held in 
the mixture for a few minutes* If a copper 
tint is imparted to the knife it- is evidence 
that a little more lime is necessary to* neu¬ 
tralise or fix the remnant of sulphate of 
copper. Should the blade of the knife re¬ 
main clear it is a sign that the two ingre¬ 
dients of the mixture have been thoroughly 
fixed. 
