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REPORT. OF THE COMMISSIONER OF “AGRICULTURE. 29 
“fesults, and thas save irks and obviate the danger of drawing false 
; conclusions. One false deduction tends to destroy public confidence 
BS in all work of this kind. By securing, either through purchase or 
A rental, a small vineyard, wherein experiments could be made under 
_ the immediate and constant supervision of a competent officer, the 
losses which might occur through some trials would not fall wpon 
individuals, and all the results obtained could be published with that 
official warrant which would inspire the confidence of all interested. 
_ The extent of the losses occasioned by fungus parasites certainly 
 ealls for the exercise on the part of the Government of every pote 
-_ effort to discover certain means for their destruction. 
_ The question of the application of remedies has been a serious 
one, and doubtless some of the failures in the trials already made 
g have been due to the use of improper methods. It was soon discov- 
ered that American machines for making the applications were far 
_ from satisfactory. They were either too cumbersome, or the labor 
involved was too fatiguing, or they were too wasteful of the mate- 
__ rials used. For several years past special efforts have been made 
in France towards perfecting spraying appliances and bellows for 
the application of liquids or powders in combating the downy mil- 
» dew of the vine by exhibitions and special premiums, resulting in 
the attainment of a high degree of perfection. Some of the most 
improved patterns have been imported for use in experiments. A 
_ report covering this branch of the subject is now in preparation. 
Although many able papers have been published on the subject of 
- peach yellows, and several observers have made careful scientific in- 
vestigations of this very important but still obscure disease, the 
results so far obtained are far from conclusive as to its cause, possi- 
ble remedy, or means of prevention. A special agent, to act under 
the direction of the chief of the section, has been commissioned to 
make a thorough investigation of this subject and to endeavor by 
every available means to settle beyond further doubt the question- 
able points. This work is progressing very satisfactorily, and ex- 
tended investigations have been in progress since the Ist of July in 
eastern localities, where the orchards have suffered most from the 
_ disease. 
Early in the year a circular of inquiry relative to facts bearing 
upon the subject of potato rot was distributed throughout the coun- 
__ try, and the extent and value of the information gained thereby was 
most satisfactory. The work of compiling the information thus 
acquired has been completed, and this material will form the basis 
of a report on this subject now in preparation. A map has been pre- 
pared which shows the distribution and severity of the disease in all 
parts of the country for a given year. . 
Other papers in the report of the section for last year relate to 
certain fungus diseases of the vine and their treatment, celery-leaf 
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