IDOin] PUBLIC DOCUMKNT— \(). ^3. 148 



sulphur wash spray recommended ])y Prof. R. E. Smith, 

 formerly of this station. This mixture, which consists of 

 sulphur, soap, potash and Avater, possesses remarkable stick- 

 ing qualities, and it is undoubtedly the most efficient mix- 

 ture recommended for s})raying for asparagus rust. 



An ArrLicATioN of the Copper Sulfate Treatment. 



Early in the sunmier the college pond became so overrun 

 with Alg{\} as to be unsightly, and the smell of this decay- 

 ing vegetable matter was so unpleasant that it became neces- 

 sary to treat it. 



Microscopic examinations of the w^ater showed that it 

 contained a considerable amount of short suspended fila- 

 ments, of a slightly whitish or greenish color, which proved 

 to be Anahcena Jlos-aquce, a form of Alg<ne found frequently 

 in public water supplies, and which gives rise to consider- 

 able trouble. The w^ater content of the pond was roughly 

 determined, and then treated with 1 part of copper sulfate 

 to 4,000,000 parts of water. The required amount of copper 

 sulfate was placed in a loosely woven sack and hung over 

 the stern of a canoe, which was paddled around the pond in 

 concentric circles for about one-half an hour, when all the 

 copper sulfate was dissolved. This is the method recom- 

 mended by Drs. Moore and Kellerman in their work on 

 treating reservoirs with copper sulfate. A careful exami- 

 nation of samples taken twenty-four hours after treatment 

 showed a slight decrease in Anahcena, and in two or three 

 days it had practically disappeared. 



Spirogyra, which was present along the shores near the 

 inlet at the time of treatment, was not affected, and subse- 

 quently a number of large clumps were found in a flourish- 

 ing condition in different parts of the pond, and many forms 

 of Algfe, such as Desmids and Diatams, appeared not to be 

 in the least affected by the treatment. Neither did the 

 animal life seem to be affected in any way by the treatment, 

 as no ill effects could be noted on the fish, frogs, tadpoles or 

 other fauna inhabiting the water. 



Of the Protozoa, the Cerafium was very numerous both 

 before and after treatment, and was in no wise afiected by 



