PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. 339 



Most of the peach trees are of such an age as would have caused them to 

 show a fair crop, but for the bad weather. Curl-leaf is the most serious 

 evil with which we have to contend in cultivation of the peach. Last 

 fall (1893), after the leaves fell, we used Bordeaux mixture, and the effect 

 was very satisfactory in respect to reduction of this disease. There is a 

 difference in the varietal susceptibility to curl-leaf, but even the worst of 

 them, even the Elberta, was by this treatment rendered entirely free from 

 it. Another fungus attacks the serrate-leaved varieties, but Bordeaux 

 mixture subdued this also. 



The same fungicide was at the same time applied to apples and pears, 

 and again in the spring, after the blossoms had fallen, Paris green being 

 added to it in the latter case. Only a few apple and pear trees as yet 

 need this, as they are not in bearing. 



Spraying on the whole has been very successful and profitable. 



Fruitgrowers are invited to call at any time to see for themselves the 

 various branches of the experiments, and they will be welcomed and 

 given every opportunity to gain such information as we have to impart. 



A REPORT ON BOTANY. 



BY PROF. W. J. BEAL, AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



As the other members of the committee have left the report entirely to 

 the writer, he will make the following statements: 



Botany at the Agricultural college is tolerated, in my estimation, solely 

 for what aid it can render agriculture and horticulture. I say it, without 

 fear of contradiction, that no one now at the college, or connected with 

 it for the past twenty-five years at least, has labored more strenuously in 

 upholding all that pertains to agriculture and horticulture, than the writer, 

 former statements by the press and by persons to the contrary notwith- 

 standing. I have never offered any encouragement to students to pursue 

 botany with view to becoming teachers of the science, though I have had 

 many teachers among my students. 



In our course, at present, a part of one term of the freshman year is 

 devoted to laboratory and field work, with some reference to books in 

 learning how to observe well common plants and become familiar with 

 their structure and names of parts. 



Another term is devoted in like manner to a study of some families of 

 plants of most economic importance — for example, those including the 

 plants grown in the orchard, vegetable and flower gardens. 



In another term the compound microscope assists in a study of the 

 minute anatomy of roots, leaves, seeds, etc., and in learning the functions 

 of each part. 



A third of another term is devoted to the study of forage grasses and 

 clovers, and another third to weeds, their seeds, etc. 



Three fifths of another term is given to the study of trees and shrubs of 

 value for the orchard, vineyard, and landscape gardening, and this course 

 is planned by and with the aid and consent of Professor Taft, with 

 special view to assist horticulture and ornamental planting. 



