April 17, 1891.] 



SCIENCE. 



213 



ammonia (23" B.), and add the solution to twenty-five gallons of 

 water. 



Dr. Thaxter of the Connecticut Experiment Station suggests 

 that a very large saving may be made by preparing the carbonate 

 of copper by the following method, instead of buying it, as its 

 market price is much greater than that of the materials necessary 

 for its preparation. Take two pounds of sulphate of copper and 

 dissolve it in a large quantity of hot water; in another barrel or 

 tub dissolve two and one-half pounds of carbonate of soda (sal 

 soda) in hot water. When both are dissolved and cooled, pour 

 the soda solution into the copper solution, stirring rapidly. There 

 will result a blue-green precipitate of carbonate of copper, which 

 must be allowed to settle to the bottom of the vessel. Now draw 

 off the clear liquid above the sediment, fill the vessel with fresh 

 water, and stir up the contents thoroughly. After the copper 

 carbonate has once more settled to the bottom, again draw off the 

 clear fluid above. The carbonate may now be removed from the 

 vessel and dried, when it is ready for use. From the amount of 

 blue-stone and sal soda given above will be produced one pound 

 of copper carbonate, and the amount of each necessary to produce 

 any given amount of copper carbonate is easily calculated. 



Sulphate of copper is used in solutions of varying strength for 

 certain special cases. 



Sulphide of potassium, known also as sulphuret of potas- 

 sium or liver of sulphur, has been found useful in the treat- 

 ment of diseases caused by those fungi known as "powdery 

 mildews," especially on plants grown under glass. It is ordinarily 

 used in the proportion of half an onuce of the sulphide to one 

 gallon of water. 



The one of the above fungicides chosen as most available under 

 existing conditions is now to be applied to the plants which it is 

 desired to protect against disease. In the special case of the grain 

 smuts, the only effectual treatment is that applied to the seed- 

 grain, since these fungi depend for their propagation upon the 

 spores which adhere to the grain and germinate with it. They 

 cannot attack the host-plant after it has fairly passed the seedling 

 stage, and the adhering spores may be killed before planting with- 

 out injury to the seed. But ordinarily the fungicide must be ; 

 thoroughly applied to the vphole of each growing plant in the form 

 of a fine spray, so that the plant is completely wet, but not 

 flooded. Perhaps a practical measure of the proper amount of a 

 fungicide to be applied to a plant may be obtained by stopping as 

 soon as the plant is wholly wet, and before the solution begins to 

 drip from it. In order to insure a fine and even spray and 

 economy of materials, especial care should be used in secur- 

 ing proper nozzles. The ordinary spraying-nozzles used with 

 hose or with small hand-pumps are utterly unsuited to this 

 purpose. 



As has been said, the question when to apply is of the first im- 

 portance in dealing with any disease, but the answer varies with the 

 case in hand. In general, however, let it be remembered that all 

 treatment is preventive, that plants once attacked are lost, and 

 that spraying must therefore be prompt and early. In the case 

 of a disease of an herbaceous crop like potatoes, the first spraying 

 should be given at once on the appearance of the disease in any 

 part of the field or in a neighboring field. The same applies to 

 diseases of woody plants, which have previously been free from 

 disease ; but where grapes or apples, for instance, were attacked 

 last year, treatment should begin with the beginning of growth, 

 and should proceed on the assumption that the disease will re- 

 appear if not prevented. In any case, after spraymg is begun, it 

 must be repeated until danger is past (a very variable period) at 

 intervals which may average ten days or two weeks, but will 

 vary according to circumstances, depending especially on the 

 amount of rainfall, which washes the copper salts from the plants, 

 and renders a new application necessary. It is always best to 

 leave an occasional plant or row of plants untreated among the 

 treated ones, to furnish a basis for judgment as to the efficacy of 

 the treatment. 



It is earnestly hoped that many persons in the State who have 

 suffered in the past from fungous diseases will this year undertake 

 definite measures to avoid such losses, and will communicate 

 early their intention to do so to the station. 



SCHOOL OF APPLIED ETHICS, SUMMER SESSION.' 



Beginning early in July, and continuing six weeks, there will 

 be held at some convenient summer resort in New England or 

 Nevy York a school for the discussion of ethics and other subjects 

 of a kindred nature. The matter to be presented has been se- 

 lected with regard to the wants of clergymen, teachers, journal- 

 ists, philanthropists, and others who are now seeking careful 

 information upon the great themes of ethical sociology. It is be- 

 lieved that many coUcKiate and general students will also be 

 attracted by the programme. Speakers and subjects wiU be, so 

 far as arranged, as follows: — 



I. Department of Economics, in charge of Professor H. C. 

 Adams, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan. 



Professor Adams will deliver eighteen lectures (three during eacb 

 of the six weeks) on the history of industrial society in England 

 and America, beginning with the middle ages, and tracing genet- 

 ically the gradual rise of those conditions in the labor world which 

 cause so much anxiety and discussion to-day. 



Along with this main course will be presented (1) three lectures 

 by President E. Benjamin Andrews, — one on the evils of our 

 present industrial system, one on socialism as a remedy, and one 

 on the better way; (3) three lectures by Professor Frank W. 

 Taussig, Ph.D., — one on distributive and credit co-operation, one 

 on productive co-operation and profit-sharing, and one on work- 

 , ngmen's insurance ; (3) three lectures by Hon. Carroll D. Wright 

 on factory legislation; (4) three lectures by Professor J. B. Clark, 

 Ph.D., on agrarian questions, discussing rent and tenure, and 

 considering the agrarian element in the farmers' alliance move- 

 ment; (5) three lectures by Albert Shaw, Ph.D., — one on the 

 housing of the poor in Paris, one on the housing of the poor in 

 London, and one on Gen. Booth's scheme for relieving poverty 

 (the first two of these lectures will have especial reference to the 

 question of rapid-transit facilities in cities) ; (6) three lectures by- 

 Professor E. J. James, Ph.D., on labor and iudustrial legislation 

 in Europe. 



In addition to the above, two lectures are expected from Mr. 

 Henry D. Lloyd of Chicago, giving chapters in the industrial his- 

 tory of the United States. 



If there be sufficient demand for it, special instruction in the 

 principles of economics will be provided. 



II. Department of the History of Religions, in charge of Pro- 

 fessor C. H. Toy, D.D., of Harvard University. 



Professor Toy will offer a general course of eighteen lectures, 

 extending through the six weeks, treating the history, aims, and 

 method of the science of history of religions, and illustrating its 

 principles by studies in the laws of religious progress, with ex- 

 amples drawn from the chief ancient religions. Among the 

 topics will be the classification of religions, conceptions of the 

 Deity, religion and superstition, sacrifice and the priesthood, the 

 idea of sin, religion and philosophy, religion and ethics, sacred 

 books, religious reformers and founders. 



The provisional scheme for the special courses is as follows : 

 " Buddhism," Professor M. Bloomfield, Johns Hopkins Univer- 

 sity ; "The Babylonian-Assyrian Religion," Professor M. Jastrow, 

 University of Pennsylvania; "Mazdeism," not yet provided for ; 

 "Islam,"' Professor G. F. Moore, Andover Theological Seminary; 

 "The Greek Religion," not yet provided for; " The Old Norse 

 Religion," Professor G. L. Kittredge, Harvard University. 



It is hoped also to arrange a set of Sunday-evening lectures, in 

 which the positions of various religious bodies. Catholic, Protes- 

 tant, and Jewish, will be expounded by prominent members of 

 these bodies. 



III. Department of Ethics, in charge of Professor Felix Adler, 

 Ph.D., of New York. 



Professor Adler will offer a general course of eighteen lectures, 

 extending through the six weeks, on the system of applied ethics, 

 including a brief survey of the various schemes of classification 

 adopted in ancient and modern ethical systems, the discussion of 

 the relation of religious to moral instruction, of the development 

 of the conscience in the child, etc. The scheme of duties treated 

 will embrace personal ethics, social ethics in general, the ethics of 



1 Fiom April number, International Journal of Ethics. 



