I 9°Sl Journal of the Mitchell Society. 69 



which made a clean crop. Then followed brining with lim- 

 ing and liming without brining, soaking in lime, arsenic, 

 salt, arsenic and lye, and various other treatments, none of 

 which, however, came into general use. Accident coupled 

 with acumen again aided in hastening a discovery. Provost 

 while attempting to germinate some spores placed some of 

 them in water distilled in a copper vessel. These failed to 

 germinate, though similar spores placed in water which had 

 not touched copper germinated well. Following this lead he 

 and numerous other investigators experimented extensively 

 with copper compounds during succeding years. 



Such is the history of the development of a treatment effec- 

 tive for smut of wheat and barley, but not for that of oats. 

 The next marked advance was made by Jensen, a Dane, who 

 in 1887 developed the famous Jensen hot water treatment, a 

 treatment which though requiring considerable accuracy of 

 manipulation was thoroughly effective. This method, if no 

 easier were to be had, was well worth to practical agriculture 

 all that the experiment stations of the world have ever cost. 

 Within only a few years, however, the Jensen treatment was 

 supplanted by the formalin treatment; a treatment so simple, 

 inexpensive and effective that, save for minor improvements 

 of detail, the end seems to have been reached in the search 

 for preventives for the particular diseases to which the 

 method applies. 



Growth of knowledge concerning bacterial diseases has 

 occurred, beginning with the pear blight which baffled all 

 horticulture prior to the assertion of its bacterial nature by 

 Professor Burrill. The proof that bacteria can and do cause 

 plant diseases has been definitely adduced, and a large num- 

 ber of such diseases have been recognized upon many plants. 

 Not only from the scientific side have these ailments been 

 studied, but from the practical as well, and preventive and 

 palliative measures have in many instances been found. 



The soil is often spoken of as the living earth. Not only 

 may it live, but it also partakes of those chief accompani- 



