Ever since it became known that oil and sulphur combined is a safe and unfailing remedy for rose-mildew in greenhouses, several writers have treated the subject as unworthy of serious consideration. For reasons best known to themselves, these writers take the ground that water is as safe to use in this connection as oil, but how they reach this conclusion does not appear, as no mention is made of the means employed to ascertain the facts of the case - from which we infer that greater anxiety is manifested to condemn the practice than to test its merits.

Precisely how much more influence oil has over sulphur than water to prevent scorching, we do not know, but that it has more cannot be successfully gainsaid, and, although unable to state the nature of the difference, there are good reasons for believing that some sort of change occurs beyond the power of water to accomplish. The facts which go to prove this have been collected from various quarters and are most convincing. Some from personal observation, and others rest upon the testimony of several of the best and most experienced plant-growers in the country. Amongst these was the late W. Bennett, of Flatbush, who informed me that in an extensive establishment in New Jersey, over which he had some control, there was a collection of rose-bushes literally infested with mildew. At his request, the oil and sulphur remedy was applied, and so strong that he was apprehensive every plant in the house would be destroyed. Instead of this, however, no harm was done to a single healthy leaf, whilst the mildew was utterly subdued. Quite a number of similar cases could be stated, all tending to show that there is greater safety in applying sulphur with oil to heated surfaces in greenhouses than with any other known substance.

And there is nothing more remarkable in this than the effect that oil has in restoring calm to the waters of a stormy sea, or its soothing effects when applied to scalds and burns.

Another objection to this remedy was urged by one of the speakers (whose name I cannot recall) at the meeting of Florists in Cincinnati last summer. He said in substance, that he was at a loss to know which of the two was the most offensive - the mildew or the smell of the composition in the house. Perhaps if this question were referred to a dozen florists for settlement, who had tested the remedy, ten of them would decide in opposition to this view. And the only reason we refer to it here, is to express sympathy for those whose sense of smell is so acute that, although affording much pleasure, is at the same time the prolific source of irritation and pain. The case of this florist is not a solitary one, and the cause of annoyance is not always due to odors, in themselves offensive, for we have known people made sick by the odor of honeysuckle, wallflower, etc., and therefore it is well for this class to guard against exposure, as it is just possible they may die at any moment in either fetid or " aromatic pain".

But this is not the way to look at measures, the design of which is to mitigate or cure the maladies to which both plants and animals are subject; but rather to regard them as means placed within reach to master disease at whatever sacrifice of temporary comfort and convenience. And moreover, the full measure of virtue in the fumes of sulphur and oil may not yet be adequately understood, for if there is any truth in the rather general belief that such diseases as catarrh, diphtheria, colds, etc., are caused by minute organisms - algal or fungal, - may not this remedy be good in such cases? I have been led to take this view from remarks made by a florist who spent much of his time in greenhouses the last two winters where the oil and sulphur was freely used. And during those winters he suffered less from colds that at any former period. This may not afford sufficient evidence that it has either preventive or curative properties, but it does seem to show that however offensive the odor might be to extremely sensitive people, it is not to be regarded as in any way hurtful.

New Haven, Conn.

[The Editor has in mind a rose house suffering from an incipient attack of mildew, and which had been seriously infested the year before. On the appearance of Mr. Veitch's paper recommending a paint made of oil and sulphur, put on the hot-water pipes, this was done to this house, and the effect in arresting the mildew was magical. The odor was peculiar, but we never heard any one suggest that it was annoying. To our mind that communication of Mr. Veitch's was one of the most valuable that has ever appeared in our pages. - Ed. G. M].