Middletown transcript., 1895-05-11


fling expense, without handling and tt
the almost enthusiastic satisfaction Of
owners
The lots have varied from $50 to 1.20(
bushels. Some have been stored in tight
garners, moro frequently, however, ii
large piles on the barn floor. The agent
used is a liquid known as carbon bisul
phide It is simply poured over the sur
face of tho grain. 1t volatiliZes almost
Immediately, but its yapor is heavier thar
air; hence it can find its way through 4(
feet of wheat, it is said, and kills all in
sect life in its course.
Apparently no traces of it remain after
a short time, for the owner of a 1000 bush
els lot reported last December rs follows
"The so pound charge poured over my
grain killed all insects in it. passed the
wheat through a fan and sold it to the
most exacting buyer in this county. He
examined it closely and paid me the high
est price without question.
Carbon bisulphide exerts no injurious
effects upon the vitality of the grain. as
the entomologist shows by the following
test
One thousand wheat berries taken be.
fore treatment sprouted 953 berries.
One thousand wheat berries taken after
treatment sprouted 912 berries.
In corn test all of the treated grains
sprouted.
Cautions regarding fire risks are invari-
ably taken in this work.
The same agent, carbon bisulphide, has
been used in attempts to kill the straw
berry root aphis, but whether applied be-
fho T,1a Mt ic of re Qffantc pre
disastrous. Tobacco water has killed the
aphides and has possibly fertilized the
plants for the considerable percentage OF
potash in the tobacco dissolves very easily
in water and becomes therefore almost i'm
mediately available. In any event Wig
orous growth of the berry plant has fol-
lowed the treatment
The carbon bisulphide does not injure
the cucumber and cauliflower, unless it
comes into direct contact with the plant.
It has been used successfully in killing
aphides on these growths particularly in
greenhouse cultivation.
In general, the blister beetle has been
killed with london purple. Parasites have
been bred artificially from parasitizod
aphides. Tho San Jose scale insect has
been identified on crab apple trees at Eel
ton and upon peach and plum trees at
Newark. The currant scale insect which
somewhat resembles the San Jose pest but
Is in no way comparable with it in its in
furious affects has also been found at
Newark.
The entomologist has delivered seven ad-
dresses during the past winter. Two 0i
these have been before institutes and coun-
ty grange meetings and five have been be-
fore schools in Kent county, this last
named work being done in the hope OF
arousing children to collect specimens OF
insect life, and, through their teachers, to
send them to this station.
HORTICULTURE.
Tests of Varieties of Grapes, Tomatoes, Ap-
pies, Peach Trees and Strawberries-At-
tempts to Destroy Canada Thistle and
Sodom Apple, Etc.
Varietal work has been done on grapes,
tomatoes apples. peach trees and straw
berries. Bulletin "a records the results
on this last named fruit For this
bulletin constant inquiry exists from all
sections of the country, one or more cop
les of it being still mailed almost daily.
Attempts to destroy Canada thistle and
Sodom apple by cutting the plants back
and placing drop of concentrated oil OF
vitriol upon the fresh surface have been
made. The ordinary bull thistle yields
rapidly; the Sodom apple decays or withers
for three or four inches under ground, but
below that it appears to retain its vital
ity. The remark applies also to the Can
ada thistle. Plants which were subjected
to this reagent have been marked in order
to admit of the study of further develop
monts.
The horticulturist has investigated va
rious troubles all over the state-has Sc
cured laboratory specimens for the study
of other members of this staff. He has Wis
tied Clayton to examine the tomato blight,
has been on the eastern shore to note the
effects of salt water overflow upon yellows
in peach orchards, has studied the apple
tree blight in northern New Castle, has
grated and cared for moro than 200 vari-
eties of apples near Milford and has given
valuable assistance in the management of
spraying apparatus used in sterilizing
barns and stables infected with contagious
diseases.
In the glass house he has studied subir-
rigation in the growth of caulifowers, the
effects of fertilizers on that plant and is
interested in the development of tubercles
on leguminous plants growing both in
sterilized and in normal soil.
During the winter term considerable
portion of his time is spent in instructing
students in the short course of agricul-
ture.