any form discontinued. After being subject to this treatment for about
four or five days, the vines received a thorough syringing, which
cleansed them from every particle of sulphur. With respect to the use
of sulphur in killing mildew, many ladies and gentlemen,' adds Mr Fry,
'with whom I have conversed, consider it highly objectionable: they
say, that they do not like the idea of eating sulphur with grapes;
neither would any one, and I can prove to them that this need never be
done; and, moreover, that the use of sulphur, when timely and
judiciously applied, does not in any way deteriorate the fruit. I much
question if the most practised eye could detect sulphur on the grapes
exhibited, although they have been twice covered with it; and as to
the mildew itself among vines, I fear it no more than I do green-fly
among cucumbers, which is so soon deprived of existence by the fumes
of tobacco.'
What is called 'a French sulphurator,' whose great merit appears to be
'simplicity and cheapness,' was also exhibited. It is described as 'a
tin box for holding the sulphur, placed on the upper side of the pipe
of a pair of common bellows. The sulphur gets into the pipe through
small holes made for the purpose in the bottom of the box, and, in
order that no stoppage may take place, a small hammer-head attached at
the end of a slight steel-spring, is fixed on the under side of the
bellows, a gentle tap from which, now and then, keeps up a continuous
fall of sulphur into the pipe.' It is said, that 'these appliances,
which may be attached to a pair of bellows for little more than
sixpence, answer every purpose for which they are intended, equally as
well as a more expensive machine.'
At the same time with this contrivance, some bunches of black Prince
Grapes were shewn to the assembled horticulturists, which could only
be preserved from mildew by frequent applications of sulphur. The
bunches are to be afterwards cleaned by dipping in water, or what is
considered preferable, 'syringing on all sides with a fine syringe,'
which process, it is well to remember, disturbs the _bloom_ on the
fruit least when directed 'downwards, or obliquely, as rain would
fall.'
As the season for gardening operations is coming on, Mr Rivers'
account may be mentioned of his mode of growing strawberries in pots;
it will be found to involve certain combinations opposed to ordinary
practice. 'About the second week in July,' he says, he filled a number
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