42 The Ottawa Naturalist, 



fruits and vegetables. 



Canadian Horticulturists are being assisted by the chemical 

 investigations instituted with the view of ascertaining -the 

 special requirements of our fruit trees. The knowledge thus 

 afforded will lead, I trust, to the more economic and proiitable 

 application of fertilizers. Already reports on the chemistry of 

 the apple and strawberry have been published, and further con- 

 tributions will be issued shortly. 



Spraying in order to prevent and check the ravages of 

 insects and fungous foes is now recognized as an indispensable 

 operation by all progressive orchardists. Without Bordeaux 

 mixture and Paris green we can no longer gather a harvest of 

 apples free from spot and the inroads of the Codling Moth. It 

 has been our duty, therefore, to examine into the chemistry of 

 these insecticides and fungicides, in order to obtain an exact 

 knowledge of their constitution, modes of action and best 

 methods of preparation. 



WELL WATERS OF FARM HOMESTEADS. 



Of the many lines of research in Agricultural Chemistry 

 that we have prosecuted since the establishment of our labora- 

 tories, few have been of greater importance than the examination 

 of the well waters of Canadian farm homesteads. Though the 

 natural waters of the Dominion as found in the rivers, lakes and 

 springs are the purest, the equal in wholesomeness and good 

 quality of the best to be found in any country, the water used 

 by the farmer and his cattle is too often of a most pernicious 

 character. It is very much to be regretted that so many of the 

 samples received by us from farmers were seriously polluted. It 

 would appear that our farmers have been in the habit of locating, 

 for convenience sake, the well in the barnyard or stable, or 

 dangerously near some contaminating source. The result of 

 this is that many wells are acting as cess-pits, and their impure 

 waters are reeking with organic filth and disease-producing germs. 

 We have at last awakened such an interest in this vital ques- 



