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Professor A. J. Cook, entomologist of the agricultural experiment station of Michigan 

 and professor of entomology in the Michigan Agricultural College ; Professor William 

 Saunders, director of the experiment stations of Canada and author of the well-known 

 "Saunders' Insects Injurious to Pruits and Fruit Trees;" Professor Lawrence Brunei', 

 entomologist of the experiment station of Nebraska ; Professor J. P. Campbell, entomolo- 

 gist of the experiment station of Georgia : Professor C. P. Gillette, entomologist of the 

 experiment station of Iowa ; Dr. R. Thaxter, entomologist and botanist of the experiment 

 station of Connecticut ; Professor H. Garman, entomologist of the experiment station of 

 Kentucky ; Professor W. B. Alwood, entomologist of the experiment station of Virginia; 

 Professor 0. Lugger, entomologist of the experiment station of Minnesota ; Professor M. 

 H. Beckwith, entomologist of the experiment station of Delaware ; Messrs. W. H. 

 Ashmead, E. A. Schwarz, M. L. Linell, C. L. Marlatt, Tyler Townsend and T. Pergande, 

 assistants in the Entomologist Bureau at Washington ; C. P. Dodge, the Agricultural 

 Editor of the Weekly Press, who was formerly connected with the entomological work at 

 Washington, and several entomologists who do not occupy official positions. 



The main objects of the gathering were to discuss plans for co-operation, to exchange 

 ideas as to methods of work, to discuss the desirability of uniformity of methods in certain 

 kinds of experimentation so as to render results more readily comparable, to talk over 

 late discoveries and to compare notes generally. Washington, with its large collections, 

 its libraries and its large number of resident entomologists, including a flourishing entomolo- 

 gical society, was well chosen as a place of meeting, and from every point of view the 

 meeting was a success. Its sessions lasted three days, the 12th 13th and 14tb, and many 

 important topics were discussed and several valuable papers were read. To some of these 

 we may briefly refer. 



Professor Garman, of Kentucky, read a paper entitled "The Bordeaux Mixture a» 

 an Insecticide," in which he detailed recent experiments which had proven that the mixture 

 in question (sulphate of copper and lime) not only acts as a fungicide in remedying grape 

 mildew and black rot as well as potato rot and scab, but that it also both deters and 

 destroys the insects infesting these plants, so that one application of the mixture to 

 potatoes, for instance, will not only prove a remedy for the rot but also for the flea beetle 

 and Colorado beetle. 



In commenting upon this paper Professor Riley mentioned the facts concerning the 

 discovery of the fungicide properties of this mixture which he had learned the past 

 summer in France, and which are not known in this country. It was accidental. For 

 years the vinegrowers near Bordeaux had been in the habit of poisoning their outer rows 

 of vines with this mixture to deter thieves. On the appearance of the mildew 

 (peronspora) some years ago, it was noticed that the outer rows did not suffer, and it 

 was not long before it was discovered that the poisoning was the cause of the immunity, 

 and this particular mixture has since remained at the head of the cheap remedies for 

 many fungous diseases. 



The important topic, " How far shall we recommend Patent Insecticides and 

 Machinery," was brought up by Professor Cook, of Michigan, and occasioned an animated 

 discussion. All of the participants had received patent nostrums by the score from the 

 inventors or manufacturers, with request for examination and test and recommendation 

 if the test proved favorable. A very healthy sentiment against fraud and even against 

 unnecessarily high-priced merit was evinced, and it was finally unanimously agreed that 

 the proper policy among official entomologists is not to recommend, even by mention, 

 am patent insecticide until by chemical analysis and careful field test it is found to be 

 either superior to or cheaper than and, at least, as good as the well-known and generally 

 recommended non-patented mixtures used for the same purpose. 



Professor Gillette, of Iowa, brought out some interesting points in a paper entitled 

 " Spraying Points," which summarized careful experiments with the different watery 

 arsenical mixtures upon the foliage of fruit trees, and which was very timely, in view of 

 the recent general adoption of these solutions against the codling moth and plum curculio. 

 He concluded that white arsenic freshly mixed in cold water does less damage to foliage 



