584 



HOBTICULTURE 



October 24, 1914 



EFFECT OF CARBON BISULPHIDE 

 IN SOIL. 



Following the reading of the instriic 

 tive paper on the adaptation of plants 

 to soils, by Dr. George E. Stone at the 

 Boston S. A. F. Convention, a ques- 

 tion from the floor brought out some 

 very valuable facts regarding the use 

 of bi-sulphide of carbon. As we have 

 in our previous issues published Dr. 

 Stone's paper in full, it may be ac- 

 ceptable to our readers that we also 

 .give space to his remarks on the bi 

 sulphide subject and several other 

 topics. 



Being asked whether bisulphide of 

 'Carbon in the soil would produce the 

 same result as sterilizing the soil, the 

 lecturer replied that some experimen- 

 ters have reported remarkably stimul- 

 ating effects on plants from the use 

 ot carbon; bisulphide; they claim 

 that these effects are very similar to 

 those produced by the use of steam in 

 sterilizing. He continued — In soils with 

 which we have experimented we get 

 only a slight stimulation from the car- 

 bon bisulphide when applied to the soil. 

 We would not consider, by any means, 

 the application of volatile substances 

 in general to the soil to be as valuable 

 as steam. Steam not only accomplishes 

 what carbon bisulphide does, but in 

 .tiddition renders the constituents of 

 the soil more available for plant food. 

 It is a question whether bisulphide 

 of carbon, which is an expensive chem- 

 ical, would be cheaper than steam. 

 Moreover, when using these chemicals 

 the greenhouse must be empty and re- 

 main so for two weeks or more, and 

 the soil constantly stirred in order lo 

 get rid of the volatile substances. In 

 Ohio, where the soil is quite compact 

 and where the steaming makes it sog- 

 gy, they use formaldehyde for the pur- 

 pose of killing various organisms. 

 However, it has not the same fungi- 

 cidal or bacteriacidal effect as steam, 

 and is therefore more limited in value. 

 In one or two instances in Ohio they 

 have reported considerable increase in 

 the crop by the use of formaldehyde. 

 This increase is believed to be due to 

 the destruction of the protozoa in the 

 soil by the formaldehyde, but I be- 

 lieve that there is also a direct stim- 

 ulating effect resulting from the use 

 of formaldehyde. Personally, I prefer 

 the steam method of treating soils, 

 rather than the chemical method. 



Carbon bisulphide, said Dr. Stone, 

 is a chemical used for killing various 

 forms of animal life, and when applied 

 to certain soils it has a quite marked 

 stimulating effect on the growth of 

 plants. Many chemicals have this 

 same effect; e. g., if willow cuttings, 

 etc., are grown in water charged once 

 in 3 or 4 days with illuminating gas, 

 both the roots and stems are greatly 

 stimulated. In some cases we have 

 observed as much as 1,000 per cent, 

 increase as the result of the gas treat- 

 ment. As already stated, many chemi- 

 cals are capable of stimulating plants 

 ■whether grown in water, soil or sand. 

 It is further believed by some that 

 these volatile chemical substances 

 such as carbon bisulphide, formalde- 

 hyde, etc., destroy the protozoa in the 

 soil which are supposed to feed upon 

 beneficial bacteria, as the result of 

 which it is believed that a stimulated 

 growth of the plant follows. 



A question was asked concerning 

 grape leaves covered with little nod- 



AN ELEGANT SHOW CASE 



In previous issues we have present- 

 ed illustrations and description of the 

 notable horticultural building of F. R. 

 Pierson Co., ai Tarrytown, N. Y. One 

 of the richest accessories ot this es- 

 tablishment is the flower show case 

 a picture of which appears herewith. 

 Passing through Broadway, Tarry- 

 town, in the evening, the store being 

 dark, and this show case flooded with 

 light, one's attention is irresistibly 

 drawn to the brilliant and unusual 

 spectacle. It is certainly one of the 

 most effective advertising devices in 

 the florist trade. 



Like all the features of the estab- 



lishment this refrigerator show case is 

 built of the most costly material and 

 very beautiful in design and finish. 

 It is 7 feet deep, 16 feet wide and 8 

 feet high. The frame work is steel 

 and concrete, the exterior is marble, 

 bronze and Caenstone, the floor moss- 

 green tile, the ceiling quarry tile, the 

 walls plate glass mirrors and opal the 

 front double plate glass with air 

 space between and the lighting is by 

 two opalescent globes in the ceiling. 

 The arrangements in the rear for the 

 reception of ice, etc., are ingenious and 

 practical. Mr. Pierson admits it cost 

 lots of money, but as an advertisement 

 alone It will soon pay for itself. 



ules on the underside, as to whether 

 these were caused by over-feeding. 

 Prof. Stone replied that these nodules 

 may have been caused by over-feeding 

 or insects, or mal-nutrition. 



A member said: I would like to ask 

 Prof. Stone relative to the use of ar- 

 senite in order to kill white lice. The 

 moment the plants are sprinkled, the 

 water from the sprinkling seems lo 

 unite with this arsenite and any leaves 

 that the water, mingled with the ar- 

 senite, touches have an appearance as 

 if they were burned. 



Prof. Stone: It is not quite clear to 

 me what chemical you used. Arsenite 

 or arsenate of soda, however, is very 

 poisonous to plants, and will burn 

 foliage even in quite weak strengths. 

 On the other hand, arsenate of lead is 

 not so poisonous and is used for spray- 

 ing trees. This is usually employed at 

 the rate of 10 pounds to 100 gallons 

 for spraying trees, and even this 

 strength often injures plum trees. 

 When used at the rate of more than 12 

 pounds to 100 gallons of water it is 

 likely to injure various types of vege- 

 tation. 



A Member: This seemed to have a 

 burning effect. Does the uniting of 

 the water and the arsenate produce 

 any action? 



Prof. Stone: No, except the soluble 

 effect of the water and the greater 

 distribution thereby over the surface 

 of the leaves of the plant. 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL 

 COLLEGE NOTES. 



The Landscape Art Club held its 

 first meeting last Tuesday evening. 

 Prof. Waugh, head of the department 

 of landscape gardening, was the 

 speaker. 



The Florists' and Gardeners' Club 

 has elected William L. Doran as presi- 

 dent; Charles E. Hathaway, vice- presi- 

 dent, and Miss Helen Burt, secretary- 

 treasurer. The program committee is 

 in charge of Charles Hathaway and 

 Stanley Wright. Speakers will be 

 secured to lecture on floriculture and 

 allied subjects. 



The senior class in landscape gar- 

 dening made their annual trip to the 

 Hartford parks, Hartford, Connecticut, 

 on Saturday. October 10. The Eliza- 

 beth park features of special interest 

 were the rose garden, rockery and 

 herbaceous garden. In Colt park, the 

 play ground is the feature, with home- 

 made apparatus. Here is the statue ot 

 Colonel Colt well set off by a striking 

 background of poplars. Keney park is 

 the best in its naturalistic style of 

 treatment. It is a park of wild 

 scenery. 



W, H, Hatfield. 



