Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-18
THE SELECT FORTY.
Discussion Of the Society for the Promotiol
Of Agriculture Today.

u ABrAcuAsuk0 AOonys
A BELTS . body Of agriculturists, whether
scientific or practicing, the Society for Promo
ton Of Agricultural Science was mp and at
work bright and early this morning. The
select forty" form Q body Of workers whose
energy IL really remarkable. At 9 o'clock this
morning the society was listening to and dis
cussing papers with - much fervor and relish
- some Of the other scientists in the city were
discussing breakfast.
ON THE POTATO ROT.
The first paper opened was 1.-THE Additional
Note on Potato Rot" prepared. by Prof J. 7.
Burrill, who, not being present, had confded
his paper to Secretary Lazenby. who read it
The paper was quite interesting inasmuch a. it
dealt with an entirely new style Of potato rot
Az Its meeting year ago this new
OF the society and Prof. Burrilrs paper simply
went further into the subject This particular
potato rot is caused by new bacterial disease
that attacks both tops and tubers Of the potato
plant, the nutritious microbe leaving potatoes to
rot In his track wherever he goes. In the
paper the microbe was quite accurately de-
scribed and the difference between it and
other bacteria pointed out.
THE ENEMIES OF YRUrr.
paper prepared by L. Paparelh Of Italy on
"Olive Oil Authorizations" was simply read by
title, the author Of the paper not being pres
emit Prof. w. ]. Green Of the Ohio College
two papers, both Of which dealt
with enemies Of fruits in the form Of bugs and
fungi. Prof. Green is not one Of the forty,
but was invited by the society to contribute to
the discussions, he being q very distinguished
agricultural scientist. "A Solution Of Arsenic
and Copper as a Fungicide and Insecticide"
was the first Of his papers, both Of which were
read by Prot. Lazenby. Arsenic and copper
M yal nne hnnv ,Iov <a
to destroy insects and fungus pests, but here
tofore they have been used in suspen-
sion. The poisonous mixture had to be
shaken before it was used and 1t took
q great deal Of 1t to be effective. Prof. Green's
plan was to form . chemical, permanent solu-
ton OF arsenic and copper in water, the solution
being effected by the use Of ammonia, lime being
used to counteract the bad effects Of the
ammonia on the plants. Prof. Green de-
scribed large number of experiments
with the new solution, which showed that
trouble than the oid-fashioned mixture.
His second paper was "Results of Treat
ment of Raspberry Anthracnose" This
raspberry anthracnose'' is q fungus disease
that attacks raspberry bushes near the ground,
starting in small black patches that quickly
spread till the "cane" attacked shrivels and
dies. The fungi spread very rapidly and Q
bush attacked by them one season will be dead
the next unless some means are taken to destroy
their growth. A series of experiments for COM
batting the disease, which had been made at
the Ohio University, was described, the treat
ment being the spraying of the bushes with
solutions.
TUBERcLEs ON CLOVER ROOTS.
Professor R. C. Kedzie submitted an inter-
esting paper on "Soil Extract in Relation to
Development Of Tubercles on Clover Roots"
The professor illustrated his paper in very
nnlQu0 fnharc1oc oil oxa
able the plant to absorb nitrogen from the
ground as the leaves do from the air. On the
development OF these tubercles the growth Of
the clover plant seems to depend. Professor Ked-
zie experiments consisted in planting clover in
clean sand and ashes. One-half the plants he
watered with pure water the other half with water
in which earth that beans had been raised in
had been soaked. The earth had been well
shaken up in the water and then allowed to set
tie. When the water was perfectly clear it was
half OF the plants grew scarcely at ALL the other
half, watered with the soil extract, grew fam
ously. The professor exhibited two of the
clover plants dried, one of them large enough
to I'LL soup plate and the other tiny, halr-like
affair, SO small that it could scarcely be seen
the professor held it in his hand. The plant
watered with ''soil extract" the professor said,
weighed four hundred times as much as the
other. The difference, he explained, was caused
by the luxuriant growth of tubercles stimulated
py the SOIL extract.
SYMPOSIUM on MAIZE.
"a Symposium on Maize" was the graceful
title Of Prof G. C. Caldwelrs paper. The pro-
lessor is a member Of Cornell University's fac
ulty, and has made a special study of corn. In
his paper he collected and arranged the results
OF all the experiments that hav, ever been
made with fertilizers in raising corn. The
paper covered an enormous field of inquiry
and represented in condensed form the results
OF experiments extending over years of time
and all over the country as well. He deducted
and concentrated the conclusions from all these
the value and utility Of all the many kinds of
fertilizers used for lettering the growth of
corn.
Prof. E. W. Hilgard read q paper entitled
"Soil Examination and Soil Maps" dealing
with the difficulty of making soil maps Of real
value. Maps showing simply the chemical con-
stituents Of soil were Of little value, and map
to truly represent soil values for agricultural
purposes should take into consideration ge-
ology, botany, climatic conditions, meteorology
and chemistry, more than any one man could
Professor whitney's paper, 'The Structure
OF Soils and the Circulation Of Soil Moisture"
was OF rather kindred character. In brief,
the point of his carefully prepared and COM
prehensive paper was that as much or more
depended upon the physical condition Of soil
is worn OUT it is because physical change
has taken place, not because Of any chemical
exhaustion, as the chemicals are always there
in abundance.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
After an adjournment for dinner at noon the
society reassembled for the consideration of
the following papers: 1.-THE Description of Va
rieties Of Strawberries and Raspberries," in
which Prof. W. j. Beal described what should
be the distinguishing characteristics of various
kinds Of these small fruits; 1.-The Relative Dates
of Towering of Some Varieties of Prunus, and
Their Importance to Practical Plum Growers"
by Prof. T. V. Munson, which was read
by title only, Prof. Munson being absent;
"a Physiological Basis Of Comparison Of
Potato Production" by Prof. J. G. Arthur,
dealing with the preparation Of potatoes for
planting; "Results of Some Experiments Made
in 1891 in the Treatment of Plant Diseases"
by invitation by Prof. B. T. GAL
loway. who is not one of the forty, which de-
scribed the results Of various methods of doc
toring diseased plants; Soaking Seed Beans
Western Weeds" by B. D. Halsted; Some
thing About Ensilage," by ]. W. Sanborn;
1.-The Babcock Milk Tester vs. the Churn
Test" by NJ. A. Scovell; "The Digestibility of
the Pentose Carbohydrates" 'sThe Extent and
Composition of the Muck Soils of Florida" by
H. W. Wiley; effect Of Food Upon the Quality
of Butter" by I. d. Hunt; Energy as a Fac
tor in Agricultural Science" by NJ Miles. and
left.
1t is expected that the agricultural scientists
will be able to finish their meeting today.