936 Summary of Agricultural Experiments, [feb., 



The Gooseberry Red Spider (Bryobia pretiosa) was effectively 

 destroyed by a wash composed of 5 gallons of paraffin, 8 lb. soft soap, 

 and water to make up 160 gallons. 



These Reports also contain notes on the treatment for Winter Moth, 

 Apple and Pear Scab, and Brown Rot Fungus. 



The Report on the Droitwich Garden gives the result of winter 

 washing and of treatment against the pear midge and canker. 



Bordeaux Mixture and other Copper Fungicides. — (Woburn Experi- 

 mental Fruit Farm, Eleventh Report, 1910).- — The eleventh Report -of 

 the Woburn Fruit Farm, by the Duke of Bedford and Mr. S. U. 

 Pickering, deals with the nature and action of copper fungicides, and 

 in particular of Bordeaux mixture, and gives an account of experiments 

 on scorching and fungicidal action. 



The chemical questions involved in the composition of copper fungi- 

 cides are discussed and many points in connection with the manufacture 

 of ordinary Bordeaux mixture are examined ; the results of tests of 

 the comparative efficiency of Bordeaux paste are also given. The 

 second part of the Report deals with experiments on the action of these 

 substances on vegetable organisms. 



Various Insect Pests (Journal of South-Eastern Agric. Coll., No. 17, 

 1908). — Mr. Theobald's Report on Economic Zoology contains the results 

 of observations and trials made in regard to a large number of insect 

 pests which were reported during 1908. 



" Rhizoctonia " Disease of Sea-Kale (Journal of South-Eastern Agric, 

 Coll., No. ij, 1908). — Experiments were undertaken in 1907 to test the 

 effect of various remedial measures on the fungus Rhizoctonia violacea. 

 The substances used included copper sulphate, iron sulphate, corrosive 

 sublimate, carbolic acid, formalin, petroleum, flowers of sulphur, and 

 lime, and the most satisfactory results were obtained by the application 

 of a solution composed of 1 oz. carbolic acid to 1 gallon of water. The 

 solution was applied to the soil with a watering can with a fine rose a 

 few days before planting the cuttings of sea-kale. Further tests will be 

 made to confirm the results obtained, but gardeners troubled with this 

 disease on sea-kale or other plants are recommended to try this simple 

 remedy. One ounce of carbolic acid is sufficient for about 4 sq. feet. 



Wart Disease, or Black Scab of Potatoes (Journal of South-Eastern 

 Agric. Coll., No. 17, 1908). — In the autumn of 1907 some experiments 

 were made in which the resting sporangia of Chrysophlyctis endobiotica 

 were subjected to artificial freezing in order to see what effect such 

 treatment would have on their powers of germination. Exposure to 

 low temperatures did not destroy the germinating powers of the resting' 

 spores, so that any system of winter ploughing of soil infested with 

 the disease, with the object of destroying the spores by exposure tc 

 frost, would seem likely to be useless. 



Effect of Carbon Bisulphide on Wireworms (Journal of South-Eastern 

 Agric. Coll., No. 17, 1908). — The usual practice in hop gardens, where 

 wireworms are troublesome, is to trap them with pieces of mangold 

 placed at the side of each hill. This is a somewhat expensive operation 

 and may cost about five shillings per acre annually, so it was determined 

 to try an injection of carbon bisulphide. 



Two rows in the College garden were selected, and the hills in on? 

 row were treated by injecting two ounces of carbon bisulphide into each,, 



