The Newtown bee., 1894-03-30
NUMBER 13

he had learned many useful points which 1 If he had put in practice would have made him better off to-day. At the con- clusion of his remarks he tried to per- suade Ex-Gov Hyde to take the chair but Mir Hyde would not be pvrsuaave,.- w. c. Sturges, from the New Haven ex- pertinent station, was introduced and spoke on the fungus growth on fruit trees and plants. In opening he said that he felt that he was simply stop cock,as he was sure that those present were more interested in milk separators than they were in the fungus growth. He then ex- plained how that the fungus growth, or fungi, had
 l GREATLY INCREASED
 in the past few years, and that farmers were no longer content to let their fruit become worthless from this cause with out trying to stop it. He described the fungi, how it was a small thread that trayerses the substance upon which it is, and sends up little spires on which are born the spawn or seeds that spread the fungi. Although of so delicate nature the fungi protects itself and will live over the winter season. He had several charts which showed the growth of the disease in different fruits. He first took the ap- pie and showed how disastrous it was tn the apple orchard, and afterward follow ed with the pear, quince, strawberry, cherry and potato. As the best remedy for this disease among fruit and plants he recommended the Bordeaux mixture.
 THIS SOLUTION
 is composed of six pounds of sulphate of copper and four pounds of lime to about 45 gallons of water. An orchard should first be sprayed with this solution when the buds are first bursting, and about three times more during the season. While spraying the last three times he recommended adding eight ounces of Paris green, as this would also rid the or chard from the effects of the tent cater pillar and moth. In the case of the fun gi or black knot in cherry trees his only remedy was to cut it out and burn the diseased portion, and then paint over the wound made on the tree with a mixture of lime and turpentine.
 Regarding the cost of this treatment, as compared with the results obtained, he gave some interesting figures. Oman acre of potatoes where the Bordeaux mixture was used the crop was sprayed three times and 223 bushels of good, fair potatoes were secured from that acre of land,
 WHILE FROM AN ACRE
 next to it on which the mixture was not used and which received equally good Icare, only no bushels were raised. The cost of spraying was S per acre, while the gain in the crop was over l03 per cent or a net gain to the farmers of $S3. 40 per acre in which the mixture was used. The cost for spraying orchards was about Is cents per tree but the increase of good fruit, fully repaid many times over the cost of the operation. He also cited in- stances where it had been used with great success on grapes and strawberries.
 While Mir Sturges was speaking A. l.. Wixted, assisted by MT Ogden had made ready the apparatus for the Bab- cock test of butter fat in milk. Several of the farmers brought samples of their milk and had it put through the testing machine. MT Winton explained that the milk was first placed in the small viols and 90 per cent oil of vitrol added. They were then placed in the machine and revolved at the rate of 1000 revolu- tions minute until everything was dis solved but the butter fat. He showed that milk and cream were indefinite while the fat was a definite thing and should be the basis in which milk should be purchased for butter purposes. Those who have looked into the Bab- cock tester have found it an invaluble machine.
 T. s. Gold. during the session, read the report of the state board in their ex- animation of tuberculosis among cattle, and an interesting discussion followed. THE FARMERS IMPROVED THE OPPORTU-
 NITY
 l to ask many questions during the after noon bringing out many valuable points. The session closed with an exhibition of the United States milk separator by MT Chandler. Taken altogether it was an interesting meeting, but a discussion on the shipping of milk would have been l of more value to the majority of the } farmers present.