The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-19
TWO WON The PRIZES
The Biological Club at A. &
NJ. College Contest.
Practical Papers Pres nted With S. W Foster
and J. W. Bullock as the
Leaders.


i The second annual contest of the Biolog-
zeal Club of the A. and M. College was
held in Primrose hall last evening. A
! large audience consisting of the friends of
the students from ST. Mary's College stu
dents, friends from Raleigh and other
schools was present. The marshals were
Messrs. F. r. Smith, Clarence Lytch and
W. w. Finley.
The first speaker, Mr.. M. H. Chesbro
whose topic was 1.-THE Farmers Interest
in Good Seed" told of the great loss
which the farmers suffer through ignorant,
or wilful adulteration of seed by the seed
dealers. He mentioned the great abund-
ance of weed seed. They are often pres.
ent to the number of millions per bushel.
and a seed which is sometime bought at
a moderate price may really be exceeding
ly expensive, in that the number of good
seeds contained in it may be very small
Mr. Chesbro emphasized the need of the
farmer testing the seed for purity and
VITALITY He added also interesting re-
marks regarding the growth OF fungi on
the seed, often resulting in serious injury
of the stand.
Mr.. S. W. Foster spoke of the "Roup or
the Diptheria in the Fowl" This is a
disease which does more damage to the
poultry industry, than all other fowl dis
eases combined. The eyes slough out, and
| the animal either dies or becomes worth
less. This disease Mr.. Foster demonstrate
ed as due to a germ or bacillus. He
showed how had he separated the
germ from the eye of the diseased chicken,
and told The audience clearly and plainly
about the experiments which he is con.
Quoting in the attempt to find an easy way
of killing this germ. and in that way
prevent the spread of roup in the chicken
yard.
| The third topic, "a Diatary Stury-The
College Ration was presented by Walter
r. Bailey Mr. Bailey has given consider
able study of this term to the college diet.
He has weighed measured and estimated
the different kinds of food given to the
college boys and then has applied to his
results a scientific knowledge regarding
the principles Of feeding in order to deter
mine whether or not the boys are receiv-
| ing the proper amount of food, and of
proper variety and kind. The standard
working ration for a man contained OBS
part of pound of protein and a heating
equivalent to $500 calories. Mr.. Bailey
found that the college gives a little more
than this, and consequently judged from
physiological standpoint is an excellent
working ration.
Mr.. j. o. Morgan told of his experiments
upon the chemical determination Of
Weeds" Mr.. Morgan has been expert
menting in a practical way with various
weed killers, both upon the tennis court
and fields He told accurately which
chemical possesses the greatest staying
! ~ -..bt of,
is the easiest to use and any one who has
wish to keep free from weeds, would have
learned much had they heard Mr.. Morgan
last evening.
The last speaker was Mr.. ]. w. Bullock
on THE Effect of the College Sewage on
the Public Health" Mr.. Bullock has
tramped from end to end the branches and
brooks in the regions Of the college into
which the college sewage flows. He has
made accurate analysis of the bacteria
and germs there present, and any one who
lives along the banks of these streams
would be interested in his results as to
the germs contained in the streams. He
concludes that practically the only disease
| in this part of the country which is con-
veyed by water is typhoid fever. and that
as typhoid fever enters the human sys-
tenn through the mouth, and the water
from these brooks is not used for drinking
purposes, there can be no danger to the
city from the college sewage.
The object of the contest last evening
was to determine who in the Biological
Club should receive the prizes which had
been donated to the club. These prizes
consisted Of two excellent microscopes
The judges, Mr.. Clarence H. Poe, editor
of the Progressive Farmer, Prof. w. S.
Sackett, of the Baptist Female University,
and Miss Meade, teacher of biology at st.
Marys had great difficulty in deciding
which of the speakers was most worthy.
Some excelled in delivery, other in thought.
some in practically, some in keenness at
experimentation. AS greater stress was
laid on experimental work, the prac-
teal application the results all these had
to be taken into account. The first prize
was awarded to S. W. Foster: The secon5
prize was given to Mr. T. w. Bullock and
these we're presented by Prof. Sackett.
A noteworthy feature of the evening
was the strictly practical nature of each
subject Everything was handled from the
practical point of view, and everything
was studied in an experimental way The
program in this way presented marked
and pleasing contrast with most of the
public speaking which is INDUCED in by
the younger generation. Facts and re-
suits, not words, receive the greatest at
tention.