738 Horticultural Institute at Geisenheim. [dec, 



chemical Laboratory, which is chiefly concerned with the 

 chemistry of wine ; (2) The Physiological Laboratory, which 

 deals with the physiology of plants ; and (3) The Laboratory or 

 experiment station of plant pathology (Pflanzenpatholo gische 

 Versuchstation). 



Plant Pathology Experiment Station. — This portion of the 

 Institute deals with plant diseases, whether organic or in- 

 organic. Its work may be considered under three main head- 

 ings : — (a) Diseases sent. in from outside for identification ; (b) 

 Diseases that make their appearance in the grounds of the 

 " Anstalt " ; and (c) Diseases common to the countryside that 

 call for special consideration as regards preventive and 

 remedial measures. 



Every day material is sent in by occupiers in the district, and 

 thus a knowledge is gained not only of what diseases are 

 present and where they are present, but information is also 

 obtained of the appearance of new diseases. 



For instance, at the time of my visit American gooseberry 

 mildew was known to exist at Bonn, but had not been heard of 

 in Geisenheim. Bonn is not far from Geisenheim, and it 

 seemed very likely that the disease would soon be brought into 

 the Geisenheim district without the Institute being aware of it. 

 On formulating this question I was told that this was very 

 unlikely, as, owing to the confidence which the growers have in 

 the Institute, they invariably send up any plants that appear 

 to be attacked by an unknown disease. There is, however, no 

 compulsion to report this disease. 



There is no doubt as to the origin of this feeling of confi- 

 dence. The Institute is continually carrying out experiments 

 on various diseases which require elucidation, and this first- 

 hand information is made accessible to the people by means of 

 cheap leaflets, and more especially by the system of travelling 

 teachers that exists in Germany. 



The ordinary gardener is thus brought into close contact 

 with the Institute, with the result that not only does he under- 

 stand to some extent the work that it is doing, which is enough 

 by itself to give him a feeling of confidence, but his needs are 

 understood. by the Institute, and information about disease pre- 

 vention, which might otherwise be only theoretical, is adapted 

 to his needs, and, in a word, is made practical. It is to the 



