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SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE 



March, 1922. 



were conducted in the dark continuously 

 and that the seeds were taken indiscrimin- 

 ately for test. Had those samples which 

 g'ave the best results also been given the 

 advantage of sunlight, and had only seeds 

 containing caryopses been selected, (com- 

 mercial seed of Poa compressa usually con- 

 tains a considerable percentage of empty 

 glumes) higher germination percentages 

 might have been obtained. 



Summary. 



1. — Sunlight was found to be somewhat 

 beneficial in germinating Poa compressa 

 (L.) 



2. — Daily fluctuating temperatures gave 

 better results than steady temperatures. 



3. — Daily fluctuations ranging between 

 16 degrees C. and 35 degrees C. are prob- 

 ably tlie best temperature conditions for 

 germinating Poa compressa (L.) 



Developments in Farm Machinery 



The question of dusting versus spraying 

 for insect and fungous control has been a 

 particularly controversial one during the 

 l)ast decade. Both methods appear to have 

 their own peculiar advantages and disad- 

 vantages, and each no doubt is deserving of 

 the fullest support and development. Dust- 

 ing is a comparatively new institution and 



there are few dusting machines on the 

 market today that have been given suffi- 

 ,cient expert trial to warrant safe recom- 

 mendation. The principal claims in favour 

 of dusting appear to be (1) that a given 

 area can be covered with much less time 

 and with less labour, (2) that the foliage 

 receives a more uniform covering and (3) 

 that it pofisesses greater adhesive powers. 



The machine shown above is made at 

 Mahone Bay, N.S. by the Perfect Spray 

 and Dusters, Ltd. We believe it is tlie first 

 power duster made in Canada. The same 

 company has been manufacturing a hand 

 -duster for several years. The new power 

 r duster illustrated above has the agitator 



fastened to tlie drive shaft which passes 

 through the dust hopper. This saves an 

 appreciable amount of mechanism and 

 power. In spite of its high air pressure, 

 the dust is discharged with little diffi- 



culty (100 lbs. can be discharged in 8 

 minutes. ) 



Some very important developments in 

 the control of sucking insects by means of 

 the power duster, may be expected during 

 the present year, as good results have al- 

 ready been achieved with comparatively 

 crude machines. 



(). A. C. ALUMNI MEETING. 



Tlie first annual meeting of the Provin- 

 cial 0. A. C. Alumni Association is to be 

 held at London, Ontario, on March 10th 

 and 11th. A banquet will take place at 

 the Tecumseh House on the evening of 

 March lOtli and business sessions will be 

 held at Hyman Hall. 



Arrangements are in the hands of Mr. 

 S. E. Todd, Secretarv. 



