27 



2, Raupenleim i inch thick. No. 3, Kaiipenleim a inch thick. The 

 other three were treated with Dendrolene in like manner. On those 

 trees receiving an application of i and ^ inch the band was 18 inches 

 wide ; when applied y\p inch thick the whole tree wa^ covered except 

 the leaves and growing shoots. Records were takiii once a week 

 throughout the summer. A synopsis of results follows : 



Raupenleim No. i., remained perfectly soft for four weeks, after 

 which it hardened and was useless. 



Dendrolene No. 1., dried in very quickly and w:is of little value at 

 the end of three weeks. 



Raupenleim No. 2. Good for four weeks, then hardened. 



Dendrolene No. 2. Good for four weeks, by which time it had 

 lost its viscid character and resembled grease with a slight crust. It 

 melted and ran badly. 



Raupenleim No. 3. Good for ten weeks. Has a tendency to 

 crack and peel off in large flakes, especially on the pear and apple. 



Dendrolene No. 3. Good for eight weeks. Loses most of its 

 viscidity at the end of five weeks, melts and runs bacily. 



The trees treated over the entire surface were all injured ; some of 

 them dying within three weeks after application. Where applied to 

 older trees no injury has thus far been noticed, another season being 

 necessary to settle this point. It is only necessary for us to suggest 

 that its effectiveness as an insecticide has in no way been jjroven and 

 that it is unsafe to apply these substances to young trees. 



VARIETY TESTS OF VEGETABLE SEEDS. 



In the spring of 1896 a series of experiments was begun in order 

 to determine the vitality and purity of the garden seeds which are 

 being placed up )n the market. For this purpose, seeds of 14 kinds of 

 vegetables were purchased from seven prominent seedsmen. Three or 

 four varieties each of the most commonly grown vegetables and as far 

 as possible the same varieties from each seedsman were selected. 



In order to determine their vitality two tests were made. 



In the first, 50 seeds of each lot were placed in a seed-tester. 



In the second, 50 seeds were [)lacedupon cheese cloth covered with 

 same and laid upon moist sand and all covered with boards which 

 were slightly raised to give free circulation of air. 



The results of both tests were quite uniform and the average or 

 the two is given in the following tables : 



