Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-02-12
S0rltultural,
Jt-pay rRENCH ON DRAINAGE.
Wednesday, Jan. q.

Wednesday,, Jan. "a.
Judge Henry +. French. former Presi-
dent of the Massachusetts, Agricultural
College, delivered lecture this afternoon
on Farm Drainage" The gentleman
had been announced TO give two lectures
on drainage, to occur on succeeding days,
but in consequence of some change In the
programme, the two were condensed into
one. Perhaps owing to this change, and
the difficulty of the lecturer to treat the
subject properly in one lecture, there was
want of completeness 70 t thar might
have rendered it a little unsatisfactory to
many who heard il, and who had expect
cd to learn .'sll about drainage"
Farm drainage was the means of farm
improvement; and in starting, the ques-
ton presented itself, what land needs
drainage? In answer, it was safe to say
that three fourths of all the land in Maine
was already sufficiently drained by na-
ture. The Swamps and runs, and many
fields need drainage. In glancing at the
h story of drainage, he stated that in 1888
there were one and one-fourth million
acres Of Undetermined land in England.
and since that the number had no doubt
largely increased. he followed up the
history of drainage in this country, and
passed to consider the effects of drainage !;
lengthening the season. preventing drouih'
increasing the yield of crops. the value OF
the land. &c. The methods of drainage
took up the greater part of the lecture
and open bitches, brush. wood stone ana
tile drains were successfully described IN
s manner that evinced great familiarity
with the subject
At the close of the lecture discussion
followed. in which Hon. Mir. Lang of the
Senate and other gentlemen engaged
PROF. Goop,IE on DISEASE N PLANTS.
The third lecture was delivered We'd
nesday evening in Representatives Hall
hy Professor George /. Goodalc OF Bow
doin College. He announced the subject
IS Disease in Plants" Disease l. dc-
fined by medical writers 10 consist OF any
deviation from the normal functions OF
a part. Thus the eve Is diseased when II
fails to perform the function which has
been assigued to Il 10y the Creator Scien-
ti6callv considered. the SAME definition of
disease should apply 70 plants, but prac-
tically the definition does not hold good.
For instance, the function of the root II
70 absorb the crude Juice of the soil. that
Of the stem to convey the sap, tina; oil The
leaves 10 work il over into food Tor the
plant and that Of the flower 10 produce
seed to reproduce It's kind. Now the
double rose j. one in which the StSmcnS
have become transformed to petals. and
thus have lost their power - impreg-
nate the pistl Il fails in the formation
of the flower. bat no one calls il 4 diseased
condition. Alter describing the cells
and tissues OF plants. he proceeded TO
present the fundamental facts in vegc-
table chemistry and the needs Of plants.
He grouped the diseases OF plants into
the great classes OF. first, those produced
by mechanical injuries. comprising al
attacks Of insects and animalcules; see
ond. those produced BY fowcrle>s para
sites, including all forms of "mildcw.
smut and rust :" third. those produced
by improper or insufficient plant-iood,-
The various diseases ia these groups
were described At considerable length.
and certain rational means Of cure were
pointed out.
Under the last head, he remarked that
plants may be either poisoned, starved
or stuffed Illustrations of the diseased
conditions were given, and their RENE
dies were alluded 10. In the course Of
ais remarks the lecturer referred u DR..
A. ;. Packard's Guide TO the Study of
Insects" and Prof JohnSonS How Crops
Crow, = a. being the latest and best Pr'c-
ical treatiSes upon practical entomology
and practical chemistry for a farmers
use. They are plain and practical
After the lecture the question was asked
what degree of heat seeds may be sub
iected 10 before destroying the germ,
Prof. Goodsle replied that TO some
kinds of seeds 200 degrees. which was
slightly below the boiling point.
Ex-Gov Brown, Of Massachusetts, then
spoke At some length, aud to great &C
ceptance, on some Of the causes of dis
eases in farm crops. One reason he be-
heyed 10 be that seeds were often cover
ed too deep or not deep enough, and the
consequence was that through these in
fuences disease was frequently genera
ted. Too heavy manuring of some soils,
as for fruit trees, or grain crops, was also
a great source Of disease in trees and
plants Several instances from his OBJ
servation were cited 10 prove these as
sertiOns.
The discussion here turned on the sub
ject of soaking seeds, corn, wheat, &c,
before consigning them 10 the ground,
upon which different opinions were given
by those present. and the various results
of which were asserted with perSistency.
Corn soaked In a strong solution of tar
was offensive to crows. and they would
not trouble corn if soaked in il before il
was planted. Strong alksli water was
regarded as a good preparation in which
To wash or soak seed wheat. DR.. Loring