SECRETARY'S REPORT. 19 



water, eulphate of soda, (glauber saltn) in the proportion of thirteen ounces 

 to a gallon of water, chloride of lime, one pound to a gallon, and blue vitrol 

 two ounces, with water enough for a bushel of grain. After these substances 

 are well dissolved, the wheat should be soaked about two hours, during which, 

 the unbroken sinut balls that float may be bkimmed off. Then it should be 

 deposited in a heap, and well mixed with dry, freshly slaked lime. It has 

 been observed that fungus growths do not flourish on the sea-coast, and per- 

 haps nothing can be found more effectual and cheaper than a simple brine of 

 salt and water. All these washes have another good effect; they tend to pre- 

 vent the depredations of maggots on the vegetating seeds. 



To render this treatment perfectly successful, it must be combined with 

 rational intelligent cultivation, for if by neglect or ignorance of the laws of 

 nature, the farmer's wheat becomes stinted and weak, it cannot escape disease, 

 for the fungi in the air and soil will find their way to it and inflict a severe 

 penalty. 



S'idging in oats is a disease in which the leaves harden, the roots enlarge, 

 and the plant is stunted and barren. It can be cured by draining. 



Another disease of aesimihition, is a malignant tumor, or black knot on the 

 plum tree, characterized by the growth of a spongy excrescence, which never 

 spontaneously ends in restoration to health. It is also infested by a fungus 

 (sphoeria morbosa) which covers the warts its vegetation has aggravated with 

 its " minute black mass of carbonized cells, arranged in the form of hollow 

 spiieres or cups." It can only bo arrested by the free use of the knife, and 

 burning every fragment of diseased structure, and renovating an exhausted 

 soil by an ample supply of fresh material enriched by composts of muck, clay, 

 salt and ashes. 



Turnips are subject to a disease termed anbury, or club-root, in which an 

 ex rescence grows underneath the bulb, and takes up the nutriment which 

 should form the turnip. These distortions manifest themselves at an early 

 period of the growth. The tumor is a favorite haunt for the maggots of in- 

 sects. It ultimately becomes putrid, and the plant perishes. It is indicated 

 by the leaves becoming sallow, and wilting in the heat of the sun. It most 

 frequently prevails in soils where, for a long succession of years this vegetable 

 has been produced, until they become tired ot it, and impoverished. Clean 

 culture, and the application of manure containing all those ingredients essen- 

 tial to its health, are the appropriate remedies. A free application of salt in 

 the autumn, or of gas lime, in quantities of from 8 to 20 busliels to the acre, 

 will destroy maggots of insects. 



A similar disease, the club, attacks the cabbage, in old cultivated ground 

 which has been too frequently cropped. It appears near the root, in one or 

 more excrescences on the stem, which are from half an inch to two inches in 

 diameter. If they are opened, small white maggots, larvfB of a species of 

 weevil may be detected. The disease may easily be discovered by its pallid 

 hue and drooping foliage. Its cause is believed to be a deficiency of proper 

 food, particularly of inorganic matter. The cabbage is a voracious feeder. 

 By chemical analysis, it is found that ten tons of cabbages would require 450 

 pounds of inorganic ingredients, of which 52 pounds would be potash, 56 

 pounds phosphoric acid, and 96 pounds sulphuric acid. It needs also, soda 

 and lime. We may then supply its wants, and contribute to its health and 

 productiveness by administering large quantities of barn-yard manure mixed 

 with muck, ashes, sale and lime. Hog manure disfigures the roots. Guano 

 is unsuitable for light, gravelly soils, but combined with superphosphate of 

 lime constitutes one of the best manures for an old garden. A half pint of 

 ashes incorporated in the soil around each plant when set out will prevent 

 club for the season. 



The turnip is subject to a peculiar disease, which is manifested by an unu- 

 sual development of roots. Instead of forming a round head, it sends out 

 several woody stem-like roots, of the thickness of a finger, which has given it 



