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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3613, 17 February 1906, Page 4

| - fhta May ne Held In Chech tor the Application of bordeaux Mixture. This disease is widespread and destructive. It is confined to the leaves and green steins, and appears about th* time the tubers begin 10 form, but may be noticed earlier if the growth of the plants has been (ducked in ary way. The first indication of its presence is the appearance on the leaves oi grayish brown '.-pots, winch soon besome hard and brittle. The disease progresses rather slowly, the spots gradually becoming, larger, especially along the edges of the leaflets. At (!u cud of ten days to two weeks, half oi the leaf surface may be brown, wiih ♦red and brittle, while the rest is of a yellowish green color. Three weeks 01 ■ a month may elapse before all the leaves succumb. The tubers stop

yvowlnf almost as soon as th« leaves are attacked, and as a result the crop to practical I j worthless. This blight may b* held in check by the application of Bordeaux mixture. This i* prepared and applied as follows: Pour into a 50-gallon barrel 89 gallons of clear water, then wtlgfc out six pounds of crushed bluestone or copper sulphate, and after

tying it in a piece of coarse socking suspend the package just beneath the surface of the water by paeans of a string tied to a stick laid across the top of the barrel. In another suitable vessel, such as a tub or half barrel, alack four pounds of fresh lime. Slack the time carefully by pouring on small qunr:'' ■ f water at a time, the object K btain a snu'. th, creamy Hqu id, “n* from grit. When the lime is slacked add sufficient mixture to make 25 gallons. , As soon ns the bluestone Is dissolved, which will require an hour or. more, pour the |me murk and bluestone solution together, using a separate barrel for the purpose, and stirring constantly to effect a thorough mixture. It sometimes happens that sufficient lime is not used, and as a result the foliage may be injured. Tc be certain that the mixture is safe, hold a steel knife In it for two or three minutes, and if the polished surface of the , blade shows a copper-colored tinge add more lime, but if it stays bright th« mixture is fit to use.—Farmers’ Review.