CONVENTION OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. 267 



differeut regions. Prof. Lazeuby thought it iiecessai y to have an ideal 

 in view toward which the horticulturist should strive, as does the stock 

 breeder, in iinproviug" varieties. 



Prof, W. J. Green, of Ohio, read two papers, (1) "The position of 

 greenhouse benches for experiment work," and (2) "The oonstiuction 

 of greenhouse benches for subirrigation." The author states that side 

 benches are objectionable, and he advocated the division of the green- 

 house space so as to have 2 benches with an alley 30 in. wide between 

 them in the middle of the house and a narrow one running along each 

 side wall. The 2-beuch plan has proved, in the author's estimation, 

 vastly superior to 3 benches for plat work, and probably will be found 

 advantageous in commercial work, as it utdizes all available space. 

 For subirrigation hexagonal tile are laid upon the bottom of the bench 

 and the water runs out at the joints, wetting the soil uniformly. If 

 the water runs out of the lower end of the tile too freely, due to too 

 great an incline in the bench, it may be checked by UvSing small sheets 

 of tin placed between the joints of the tile at any point where more 

 water is desired in the bed. 



Prof. B. D. Halsted read a paper on " Field experiments with fungi- 

 cides." He gave in detail his methods of arranging plats and the vari- 

 ous strengths of fungicides used. The experiments were conducted on 

 cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes, and beans. The authorreported in detail 

 on the results obtained during the present year with beans. Two crops 

 were grown, the second one being reported upon. Three strengths of 

 Bordeaux mixture were used and the plants sprayed 8 times. In other 

 plats they were sprayed 8 times with ammoniacal copper carbonate solu- 

 tion. His conclusions were: (1) Soaking seed has no effect upon the 

 prevention of spot disease. (2) Spraying ail plants is advantageous in 

 ratio of more than 10 : 1. (3) Bordeaux mixture is better than ammo- 

 niacal copper carbonate solution in ratio of 4 : 1. (I) Spraying dwarfed 

 plants one third where the full strength was used, one sixth wherejone 

 half strength was used, and one seventh where one fourth strength was 

 used. Where the full strength of the fungicide was used the total 

 weight of stems and roots was decreased one half. 



Prof. Halsted also reported on some field experiments with beets, 

 using Bordeaux mixture and ammoniacal copper carbonate in various 

 strengths and spraying the plants 8 times. Ammoniacal copper car- 

 bonate is not a successful fungicide in this connection. Bordeaux mix- 

 ture increased the weight of beets harvested about one fourth over the 

 check plats. 



Prof L. C, Corbett's pajier on "The determination of sex in Shep- 

 herdia arf/entia^' was read by the secretary. The dioecious quality of 

 the plants was pointed out and it was shown that the buds vary greatlj^ 

 in the two forms of plants. Ordinarily the plants were sold regardless 

 of sex, hence the frequent complaint of their infertility. A little care 

 in recognizing the bud characters would prevent this trouble. 



