DISEASES OF PLANTS. 093 



The various methods of prepariiio- liordeaux mixture were tested dur- 

 ing the past season, the work being carried out by W. A. Orton. Tlie 

 value of the different mixtures was tested by means of settlings in a 

 4-inch column of the mixture after standing one hour. Tlie impor- 

 tance of pure material and proper mixing is clearly shown. In all cases 

 lolig-continued and thorough stirring improves tlie mixture. The best 

 method to follow in practice is " to pour the two dilute solutions 

 together carefully while stirring, or to pour the diluted suJphate into 

 the diluted lime, stirring meanwhile. In this dilation it may be incon- 

 venient to dilute the sulphate solution with one-half the total amount 

 of water, in which case two-thirds of the water may be added to the 

 lime and only one third to the sulphate with good results, but the 

 sulphate should not be more concentrated than this. If obliged to add 

 the lime slowly, it is found that adding concentrated lime slowly to 

 dilute sulphate gives better results than adding dilute lime slowly to the 

 dilute sulphate.'' 



The disinfection of seed tubers as a preventive of potato scab was 

 investigated, corrosive sublimate solution being used. A general sum- 

 mary of the results shows that smooth seed taken from a crop having 

 more or less scab and i)lanted in clean soil gave a somewhat scabby 

 crop, but when disinfected and planted in clean soil gave a perfectly 

 clean crop. Very scabby seed washed and disinfected in the same 

 way gave a crop slightly scabby, but much less so than similar untreated 

 tubers. Smooth tubers disinfected and planted in infected soil pro- 

 duced a crop considerably freer from scab than where untreated seed 

 tubers were used, but in no case was it entirely free. Treatment of 

 tubers, when performed just prior to planting, in all cases retarded 

 germination. In no case was there a gain or loss in the total yield 

 which could be attributed to treatmen* of the seed sufficiently large to 

 be of any significance. 



In continuation of the experiments described in the Annual Report 

 of the station for 1894, page 109 (E. S. R., 8, p. GO), experiments were 

 conducted in spraying i)ears with Bordeaux mixture, with the same 

 generally favorable results. 



During the season investigations were conducted on the relative 

 amount of smut in oats grown in Vermont and in other States. Sam- 

 .plesof seed were secured from 9 western stations and sown in different 

 series. The results are given at length and partially tabulated, show- 

 ing that there were some conditions which seemed to be favorable to 

 the development of smut at the station. This is particnlarly striking, 

 si-ncethe previous reports have tended to show that conditions existing 

 in Vermont usually tended to diminish the amount of smut. Seventy- 

 five per cent of the samples sown at the Vermont station showed a 

 higher percentage of smut than the same variety sown at the station 

 from whence the samples were obtained. The general occurrence of 

 oat smut throughout the State is reported upon, ami while it appears 



