1907.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 157 



REPORT OF THE BOTAOTST. 



G. E. stone; assistant, n. f. monahan. 



Outline of Woek. 



The work of this department has been devoted during the 

 past year to lines of investigation pertaining to scientific and 

 practical problems. Attention has been given to the spraying 

 of potatoes, and to a study of the stimulating or tonic influence 

 of the Bordeaux mixture on the photosynthesis of plants. It 

 has long been recognized by many observers that Bordeaux 

 mixture, besides possessing valuable fungicidal properties, ex- 

 erts a tonic effect on plant assimilation. The factors under- 

 lying the cause of this favorable influence upon assimilation, 

 however, are not well understood, and investigations are to be 

 continued relating to this problem. 



A continuation of our studies of a remedy for tomato rot 

 under glass has been carried on, and it will be necessary to 

 continue these investigations siill further before a report is 

 made. It is hoped that the necessary funds for a new green- 

 house will be appropriated this winter by the Legislature, in 

 order that this work and other problems associated with green- 

 house culture may be investigated. There is a large amount 

 of money invested in greenhouses at the present time in 

 Massachusetts, and we believe we are within the limits of 

 safety when we state that the square feet of greenhouse space 

 in Massachusetts ha^ been doubled within the past five years. 

 Little attention has been given to this line of investigation by 

 other stations, and the market-garden and florist industry is 

 important enough, in this State at least, to receive consider- 

 able attention. 



During the past summer tests have been made of some 



