The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-09

propagate their species. In the manner
described, they are carried from tree to
tree and from orchard to orchard, thus
spreading the infection. The little pear
trees in pots at the hospital have been
Infected aruficially. This was accomplish
ed by growing the fungus spores in gea-
tine and then pricking the bark of the
little trees with a needle that had been
touched to the infected gelatine
The departmnt of agriculture has a num-
Der OF agents in various parts of the
country, who travel about and collect spec
linens Of plants which are suffering from
diseases that cause trouble to the farmers.
are occasioned by various para
site. fungi. q which there are at
least 0,Oo0 species In each instance the
fungus that is doing the mischief One
way of accomplishing this is to break off
bit OF sick leaf and soak IL in distilled
water. Thus the water is quickly filled
with the germs of the disease. drop
OF 1t Is put on some sterilized gelatine,
upon which the spores feed and multiply.
Thus a culture" is obtained. A healthy
plant is inoculated with a little of the
culture and, IL the disease is reproduced,
Il is proved that the right germ has been
by experiment what will serve best for
killing this particular fungus. For ex-
ample solution OF sulphate OF copper
and lime did the business perfectly for
fungus that came near to wiping out
certain grape plantations in Virginia not
long ago. Likewise, the germ of potato
been ascertained for fighting it effectually
and cheaply.
Some Interesting experiments are being
conducted in the plant hospital with re-
latlon to the watering of plants. There
are two large beds of violets, one of which
is being watered in the ordinary fashion.
TO the other water is furnished from be-
meath, by means of clay pipes which run
six inches below the surface of the soil
The water escapes through the pores of
the pipes and also through the pores of the
CLAW UirACtlV absorbed
roots of the violets. It is desired TO find
out the effects Of these different methods
of watering upon the growth and health
of the plants. The underground system
corresponds to what is known in the west
as Sub-rrigation. Results obtained prov
ed that in this way the gallon of water
piled from above. Such a matter is of
great Importance from the point Of view
of farmers in the arid regions.
Prof, Galloway has a remarkable meth
cd of finding out the percentage of mois-
ture in any soil, He uses a telephone for
the purpose. An induction coil furnishes
q current of electricity, which passes
through wires that are connected with two
plates of carbon. These plates are thrust
into the ground, three or four inches apart
and the current is turned on, Immediate
ly a singing like that of a very large Jer-
sey mosquito is heard in a telephone ear
box, which the operator holds to his ear.
This ear-boX is connected by wires with
the apparatus. The operator adjusts the
mechanism until the singing ceases. This
being done, register lnuicateS correctly
the electrical resistance of the layer of
soil between the two carbon plates.
Now, soil conducts electricity better in
proportion to the amount of water which
it contains. dry soil being non-conductor.
Accordingly, having ascertained the de-
gree of electrical resistance, the operator
is able to determine with accuracy the
percentage of water in the soil. 1t can be
done in any cultivated field the apparatus
being portable. In greenhouses this meth
cd is likely to prove particularly valuable,
inasmuch as ii will enable the gardener
10 know just when he ought to furnish wa
ter TO his plants. Hitherto it has been
puaSSvNOrE