INTERNATIONAL C()N(;RESSE^^ AT PARI!^. 209 



coi'cal rusts alxniiid authorize and cncouraj^'c tlii' study oi' these diseases 

 and means for their ])r(>vention for at least five years, this study to 

 inelude the investigation and hreediuj^" of resistant varieties to take 

 the place of those now cultivated. On account of the danger of the 

 8j)read of diseases of cotfee, cacao, and sugar (;ane to countries not now 

 ali'ected, it Avas suggested that the importation of all living stocks be 

 under strict governmental control and such exchanges be isolated for 

 a year or more until all danger of infection is past. Attention was 

 called to the necessity of recognizing the relation between low vitality 

 of plants and their liability to disease, and of taking steps toward 

 studying the proper hygiene of the plant. 



On July 8 the subjects of agricultural education and the protection 

 of useful bii'ds and animals were considered in general session, having 

 been referred to the general congress from their respective sessions. 

 Consideration was also given the reports on the improvement of sugar 

 beets, and from section T on plant diseases. In the afternoon the del- 

 egates visited the sewage works at Ache res, where the sewage of Paris 

 is disposed of. The filtration works have a superiicial area of over 

 9,000 acres. 



The general sessions of the congress on July 4 were taken up with 

 reports on the improvement of races of stock, and on the question of 

 wheat supply and demand. l)oth topics l)eing discussed at considerable 

 length. 



July 5 was given up to excursions to Verrieres, the trial grounds of 

 Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., and to the farm of M. Henry Petit. This 

 latter has lieen maintained as a model farm in this family since 1740. 



At the general session of July 6 the subject of import and octroi 

 duties as bearing on the price of agricultural produce was discussed, 

 and reports received from the different sections. The afternoon ses- 

 sion was given up to reports on agricultural insurance, cooperative 

 bakers, use of alcohol in various industries, molasses for distilleries, 

 agricultural syndicates, and agricultural cooperative associations. 



At the morning session of July 7 in section 3 a report was made on 

 the reclamation and bringing under cultivation of certain tracts of 

 land near the sea. More liberal concessions on the part of the (xovern- 

 ment are required to make such enterprises successful in France at 

 least. A paper on irrigation in France was I'ead and discussed. It 

 was stated that of between (\ and 7 million hectares of land capable of 

 irrigation but 250,000 hectares have been improved in this way. The 

 subject of mountain pastures and pasturage as liearing upon the ques- 

 tion of reclamation of such regions was introduced and considered at 

 some length. On account of the importance of the topic it was 

 formallv referred to the next meeting of the congress, two years hence, 

 at which time reports are to be expected from all the nations taking 

 part in the congress. 



8058— No. 3 -2 



