208 



One clay of the session was devott^d to the nieetingfs of the Associa- 

 tion of Exi)erimeut IStatious in the German Eni\nit {Verba ml landirirth- 

 schaftlicher Veisvchs-Stalionen im deutschen Eeiche). (See Experiment 

 Station Record, vol. i, page 175.) This Association is simihir in purpose, 

 organization, and operations to the American Association of Otticial 

 Agricultnral Chemists. It differs from that, however, in that it con- 

 cerns itself more with the ways of introducing and executing the control 

 of the commercial products investigated. The difference is exphiincd 

 l)y the tact that a large number ot stations are engaged in this control, 

 and that it is exercised ahnost exclusively by them, while in tlie United 

 States but few stations perform such work, nnich of it being done by 

 State boards, commissioners, and inspectors. It is an esi)ecial object of 

 this Association (of which 4:4 of the German stations are members) to 

 secure uniformity of methods of investigation, and eflSciency in the con- 

 trol of fertilizers, feeding stuffs, and seeds. Comparatively little time 

 was given to the diseussi(»n of methods of analysis at the Halle meet- 

 ing, as other important matters, especially in connection with the con- 

 ditions under which analyses of fertilizers should be made, called for 

 detailed consideration. 



In the meetings of the Section of Agricultural Chemistry a consider- 

 able number of pajnTs and informal re]>orts were i)resented and 

 discussed. 



The Dresden Kxjteiiment Station for Plant Culture, establislu'd A]>ril 

 1, 181)0, by the Saxon Government, and located in the Dresden Koyal 

 Botanic Garden, was described by Professor Drude, director of the 

 Botani<' Garden and su]>erintendent of the horticultural division of the 

 station, and Dr. Steglich, superintendent of the agricultural division 

 of the station. The description was of special interest as illustrating 

 the ways in which the managers, with the advantage of the latest and 

 best exi)erience, have planned the ai)]>liances and work of the station. 

 Unlike the majority of the German stations, this is supported and con- 

 trolled entirely by the Government. It has the same governing board 

 as the station at Tharand. As that station, of which Professor Nobbe 

 is director, was not i>rovi(le(l with the desired land for garden and iu'hl 

 experiments, and the Dresden Botanic Garden as newly organized 

 inchuled ami>le ground, an area of about 8.75 acres (3.5 hectares) was 

 assigned to the new station. Buildings, including botanical and chem- 

 ical laboratories, are being erected. An area of L*.8 acres (l.ll' hectares) 

 has been laid out in plats for experiments on varieties, effects of ferti- 

 lizers, and diseases of plants and their prevention. One ]V'culiar feature 

 of the ])lat experiments is the i>lan for tests with tyi)ical soils of Saxony. 

 For this purpose the scul of a measiu'e<l area is removed to the depth of 

 one meter and rei)laced by the special soils for experiment, which are 

 brought from appropriate localities. An ai)paiently uniform santly 

 or gravelly subsoil is thought to promise uniform drainage and water 

 supply from below. While these exi»eriments are beinjj made at the 



