118 GENERAL HISTORY. 



pressing its modern scope, is " A department of agriculture, including pomol- 

 ogy, floriculture and vegetable gardening. Ic is intimately related to arbor- 

 culture, and landscape gardening, and is almost inseparable from botany." 



The steps were ti*aced, somewhat in detail, by which the the technical bot- 

 any of thirty or forty years ago has been remodelled or transformed into the 

 practical or economic botany of a more recent period. 



In closing, the professor remarked, "In very many respects, then, botany 

 will make a horticulturist more capuble. It will make him a good observer, 

 improve his reason, strengthen his judgment, cultivate his taste, broaden 

 his views, weaken his respect for the tradition of his fathers. It will sharpen 

 his wits, make him an investigator, and help to make him a better neighbor 

 and a better citizen." 



At the close of his address the professor was plied with questions freely. 



Professors Cook and Tracy closed the discussion by giving some illustra- 

 tions of important economic results from the deductions of pure science, and 

 urged the advantages to be anticipated from its application to horticulture. 



The afternoon session was opened by Professor A. J. Cook with a paper on 

 " New Insect Pests, and New Ways of Fighting Old Ones." 



Bisulphide of carbon was spoken of, and experiments with carbolic acid de- 

 tailed. He then went on to say that he had received a cigar box full of 

 insects from Grand Eapids, which were part of about a bushel destroyed in 

 one night by the electric lights of that city. , 



He farther mentioned the greater variety of insects supposed to congregate 

 at South Haven, as the result of its varied fruit growing interest, the ease 

 and economy with which an electric light establishment could be operated 

 here, and the honor to accrue to the place by emulating the example of Paris 

 and at the same time solving the problem of the sufficiency of this new appli- 

 ance as an insect destroyer. 



He had been very successful in the destruction of the codling moth larvae 

 by spraying the trees with Paris green, but hesitated to recommend the gen- 

 eral use of so virulent a poison. 



J. S. Woodward spoke of this as eminently successful in western New 

 York. 



zV paper, by H. D. Cutting, on " Bees and Grapes " was next read. 



He had been engaged for years in experimenting, and demonstrated to his 

 own satisfaction that bees will only attack grapes after the rupture of the 

 skin. 



The discussion developed differences of experience, though with the appar- 

 ent preponderance of testimony in favor of the bees. 



The secretary next read a paper by Professor Burrill, of Illinois Industrial 

 University, upon the question "Have we any New Light on Pear Blight or 

 Yellows?" 



The paper contained much valuable information, stating that nothing new 

 had been elicited concerning yellows, that the blight of the pear, the apple 

 and the Lombardy poplar were assuredly from the same cause, and that 

 therefore the Lombardy poplar must be considered a dangerous neighbor to 

 tiie orchard. 



He was, as yet, unable to suggest any new or bettter remedy than that of 

 stamping out the disease as already practiced. 



The closing paper of the afternoon was by Professor T. J. Wramplemeier, 

 of the State XJniversity, upon "^ Poisons, and their Use as Insect Extermina- 



