INTERXATIOXAL CONGRESSES OF HORTICUETURE, VITICUL- 

 TURE, AND AGRICULTURE AT PARIS. 



Walter H. Evans, Ph. Tt., 



Office of Experiment Slatlons. 



Among the congre'^ses held at Paris the pa.st summer in connection 

 with the international exposition, those of horticulture, viticulture, 

 and agriculture are likely to prove of special interest to readers of 

 the Record. The following brief account is prepared from notes 

 taken by the writer and from some of the published proceedings. 

 The doings of the congresses of experiment stations and of agricul- 

 tural instruction were noted in the preceding number of this journal 

 (pp. 101, 102). 



COXGRESS OF HORTICULTURE. 



The International Congress of Horticulture was opened by M. 

 Dupu3\ minister of agriculture, in the Salle des Congres, Paris, May 

 25, and continued three da3's. Permanent organization was effected 

 with M. Viger president and M. Bergman general secretary, the vice- 

 presidents being selected from the various foreign delegates and dis- 

 tinguished French horticulturists present. 



The papers presented covered quite a range of horticultural topics 

 and were discussed at length. The hrst was a report on progress 

 made in the heating of greenhouses. Steam, it was said, has l)een 

 employed since 1825, having been used at that time in England. Hot- 

 water heating was advocated as easier of control, and by its use lower 

 constant temperatures are possible than Ijy the use of steam. Public 

 gardens for different regions and the question of the ornamentation of 

 public squares and promenades were discussed. The general princi- 

 ples of ornamentation and requirements for parks, squares, and streets 

 were stated, and the kind of plants adapted to the different conditions 

 indicated. The fourth paper treated of the causes of the clematis dis- 

 ease and its prevention, and led to considerable discussion. Different 

 opinions were expressed as to its cause, some holding it to be due to 

 nematodes, others that it was a question of nutrition. For destroy- 

 ing the nematodes, which are said to be species of Heterodera, the 

 immersion of pots in water for 24 hours was recommended. For open- 

 air culture no means of prevention were proposed. The art of the 

 floral decorator, its development and utility as related to horticulture, 

 was the subject of two conti'ibutions. In one the development of the 



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