SEPT <8 
641 
Scientific, 
PPOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 
THE PROMOTION OF AGRICULTU¬ 
RAL SCIENCE. 
(Rural Special Report.) 
This new association held its third annual 
meeting at Montreal on August 21 and 22. 
The various essays read would fill a good-sized 
volume and will, doubtless, in due time be 
printed in book or pamphlet form for the in¬ 
struction of the agricultural community and 
the edification of the rest of the worl 1. Here 
there is room merely for reference to a few 
points of general interest: 
Dr. D. E. Salmon’s address on “Animal 
Plagues and How to Control Them" was at 
once interesting and instructive. He has de¬ 
voted a good deal of time and study to the 
subject of chicken cholera, and has discovered 
a sure remedy, or rather preventive, for this 
thinner of the poultry yard, by means of vac¬ 
cination, the vaccine matter being procured 
by diluting the blood of a cholera infected 
fowl, much in the same way in which Pasteur 
obtains the attenuated virus with which he 
vaccinates sheep as a safeguard against an¬ 
thrax. Asa Standard behasuseda virusdiluted 
one to 10,000. This produced a local lesion in 
some cases, which appeared in a few days, 
and this in two or three weeks was followed 
by fever. All such fowls were afterward ex¬ 
empt from the disease, even if inoculated 
with strong virus. Some chickens were sus¬ 
ceptible to a virus as weak as one to 75,000, 
and by such inoculation were rendered proof 
against attack. Fowls not susceptible to a 
weak virus proved to b9 so to a stronger one. 
Thus by grading the strength of the vaccine, 
which was easily aud quickly done, all fowls 
could be successfully inoculated and so ren 
dered safe from these fatal innoccrophytes 
We need much more experimentation to de¬ 
termine whether there ure still better meth¬ 
ods to attenuate the virus, and whether we 
can protect against danger from other con- 
tagia, like Texas fever, pleurc-pneuraonia, 
not to speak of various human diseases, by 
the use of a similarly attenuated vaccine, 
v hich may be easily secured by diluting the 
blood of an individual diseased or dead of any 
of these contagions, Pasteur is at present 
busily engaged in this direction, having just 
obtained from the French Government an 
additional appropriation of 50,000 francs to 
enable him to continue his studies, as cabled 
last Thursday. 
Prof. W. J. Beal read interesting papers 
on “ Testing Seeds at different Temperatures” 
and on “ Varieties of Red Clover," Of the 
Red Clover he said that individual plants in 
our fields vary greatly in earliuess, number 
of stalks, power of ensuring dry weather; in 
hight, m position taken, from erect to widely 
spreading. Some plants have slender stems ; 
other large; some are pubescent, some smooth; 
some light green, some quite dark green, or 
even purple. The leaflets and heads of flow¬ 
ers vary much in size and shape on different 
plants. The sepals vary in length and hairi¬ 
ness; the petals in length aud color ; the 
flowers from white to scarlet. He exhibited 
a large number of specimens of some of 
the most peculiar plants he had seen. He 
is saving sseds to raise plats of clover, hoping 
after a few years of careful selection to get 
some improved races of clover. He thinks we 
may produce a race well adapted to the honey 
bee, and also better adapted to the various 
sections of our widely-extended country. 
Professor R C. Kedzie spoke at length of 
the “Origin of Nitrogen in Plants." There is 
still some dispute as to the source from which 
plants obtain their nitrogen. Cue class, fol¬ 
lowing the French chemist Ville, believe that 
the nitrogen is obtained from the air; another 
class, headed by Boussingault and Messrs. 
Lawes and Gilbert, insist that there is no 
proof that free nitrogen is assimilated for 
plant growth. To aid in determining the 
question Dr. Kedzie carried out a series of 
experiments which he described at length. 
These do not seem to have been conclusive, 
although the results appear to favor Bous- 
singault’s theory. This view of the question 
was strongly supported, on August 28, in a 
paper by Sir J. B. Lawes and Dr. Gilbert, 
read by the latter before the American As¬ 
sociation for the Advancement of Science, 
which assembled at Montreal on August 23. 
The conclusions reached by these eminent 
scientists were thus summed up; 
'* In fact, after the review of the evidence 
which the determinatiou of nitrogen iu the 
soils of our experimental plots affords, we 
end, as we began, by saving that although we 
admit the facts of production are not yet con¬ 
clusively explained, we insist that there is, 
to say the least, much more of direct experi¬ 
mental proof of the soil than of the atmos¬ 
pheric source of the uitrogen. Moreover, we 
submit this may be said, not only of the 
source of the nitrogen of the cereals, but of 
the root crops aud of the Leguminosaa. If, on 
the other hand, the atmosphere is the main, if 
not the exclusive source of the nitrogen of the 
Leguminosaa, we would ask here, as we have 
asked elsewhere, why those leguminous crops 
which take up the most nitrogen can be less 
frequently grown on the same soil ? Why we 
entirely fail to grow clover succesfully on or 
dinmry arable land, which was, nevertheless, 
in a condition to yield fairly good corn crops? 
Why the only condition under which we have 
been able to grow clover continuously was 
where the soil was very much richer in nitro¬ 
gen (and of couse in the constituents) than 
the arable land? And lastly, why its growth 
under such circumstances (and that of tho 
Legurainosm in the mixed herbage) has been 
accompanied by a rapid diminution in the 
amount of nitrogen in the soil, and with this 
a marked decline In the produce?" He showed 
results of a test of Illinois soil made in Great 
Britain, and also of some in the British North¬ 
west Territories. They were twice as fertile 
as any of the British soil, and should prove a 
mine as well as a laboratory. The results of 
the experiments si own by Dr. Gilbert were 
convincing in favor of land manuring, and 
should convince farmers that earth and at¬ 
mosphere do nod furnish all the nitrogen 
which the land requires, A hearty vote of 
thanks was given at the conclusion of the 
paper. 
Professor C. E Goessman, of the Massa¬ 
chusetts Agricultural College, speaking of 
the “yellows” in peaches, said that on the col¬ 
lege grounds the disease was far worse in trees 
on poor, light soil; where the soil was strong 
it obtained little hold. He thinks that the 
fungi seen in the cells are a result of the dis¬ 
ease, not a cause. It seems evident from the 
surroundings that there is some lack in the 
soil which gives rise to the enfeebled growth. 
Professor Maynard in 1878 commenced to treat 
the soil where the diseased tree* were to a 
superphosphate, adding three or four pounds 
of chloride of potassium to each tree. Soon 
the trees improved and now they are in good 
health. Professor Penhallow made chemical 
analysis of the sound and diseased wood. There 
was a lack of potash in the latter and an ex¬ 
cess of starch in the cells. The cause of the 
disease seems to be improper assimilation, be¬ 
cause of impoverished or improper soil. 
Prof. T. J. Burrill said scab iu apple trees 
was unusually abundant this year, growing 
on young leaves, twigs and fruit, and causing 
the latter to decay prematurely. As the 
spores germinate soou after the apple trees 
start growiDg in the Spring, it is best to spray 
the diseased parts with coal oil; common soft 
soap may be used as a wash with good effect. As 
remedies for the scale insect. Prof. J. H. Com. 
stock recommended pyrethruru powder and 
solutions of soap or lye, to be applied while the 
tree is dormant. Kerosene sprayed on orange, 
elm and other scale-infested trees, has been 
found very effective, according to Prof. C. V. 
Riley. Prof. A. J. Cook found Paris-green 
and London-purple the best insecticides. 
One pound to 10U gallons of water he thought 
quite enough. So diluted, he thought it might 
be safely applied to cabbages and strawberry 
plants, as a light rain would wash it off. 
Others, however, thought this might prove 
dangerous, and advocated the use of pyre- 
thrum for all edible growth. 
Professors G. C. Caldwell and J. W. San¬ 
born both agreed, in separate papers, that a 
series of feeding experiment with steers, car¬ 
ried on by the former in conjunction with 
Prof. 1. P. Roberts, at Cornell University, N, 
Y.; and by the latter independently at the 
N. H. State Agricultural College, showed that 
the German tables of feeding values are incor¬ 
rect, being usually too large. Both of these 
papers were highly valuable to stock feeders. 
Among the other instructive essays read 
may be mentioned, “Origin of Butter Fat,” by 
Prof. L. B. Arnold; “Underdraining" by Pat¬ 
rick Barry; * 1 Study of the Soils,” by Dr. G. 
W. Cook; “Food Value of Cotton Seed,” by 
Prof. F. A. Gully; “Pulverizing and Stirring 
the Soil," by Prof. I. P. Roberts, and “In" 
fluence of Soils on the germination of seeds,’ 
by Prof. W. W. Tracy. To the 16 old members 
four new ones were added, namely, Dr. Arm s- 
by of Storrs Agricultural Schoot, Connecticut, 
H, E, Alvord, “Houghton Farm,” N. Y.; Prof. 
C. V. Riley, Washington, D. C., and Dr. Dab¬ 
ney, Director of the North Carolina Experi¬ 
ment Station. H. w. l. 
Various. 
PYRETHRUM POWDER A SUCCESS. 
Iv the Rural, of July 21), “Amateur,” states 
that with him the Persiau Insect Powder was 
a total failure. He certainly must have had 
powder naturally worthless either from adul¬ 
teration or age. [ There can be no doubt about 
it. Ens J Tuts is the fourth season iu which 
I have used the powder aud I am more pleased 
with it tnan ever. The scale insects on the 
English Ivy are the only ones it has failed to 
destroy. A room is quickly rid of house flies 
by closing the windows and dusting the pow¬ 
der about the room. As many of the flies are 
only stupefied they should be swept up and 
destroyed as soon as they are all down. Its 
absolute safety renders it particularly desir¬ 
able for this purpose. Careful experiments 
show that the cabbage worm can be destroyed 
at a trifling cost by it. The great difficulty 
is in securing a pure,freshly prepared powder. 
Fortunately the Buhach Manufacturing Com¬ 
pany of Stockton, California, are now grow¬ 
ing several hundred acres of Pyrethrum plants 
and are prepared to supply the genuine article. 
The pure powder sent out by them can be 
adulterated by the user to 9uit the require¬ 
ments of the case. 
For house use in destroying all kinds of in¬ 
sects it is invaluable. For the garden it is 
satisfactory, but hellebore, Paris green or 
London-purple are of course much cheaper 
and should be used where there is no danger 
of poisoning. Pure, fresh Pyrethrum will kill 
insects as certainly and surely as Paris green 
only one should get the genuine article and 
use it intelligently. W. A. Henry. 
Prof. Agriculture University of Wis. Aug. 5. 
[Prof. Henry corroborates the results of our 
own tests which appeared in the Rural about 
the time the above article was mailed. Eds.] 
RURAL BRIEFLEIS. 
Mr. E. C. Reed, of Michigan, wrote some¬ 
time ago stating that he had preserved a plant 
a part of which was chess and a part wheat 
and expressed his willingness to send it to 
us if desired. The plant was received in 
perfect order and a specimen better calculated 
to fasten the belief that wheat may change 
to chess we have never seen. The stems and 
heads of each were pretty equally inter¬ 
mingled and all seemed to proceed from the 
same root. The root was placed in water for 
24 hours and the soil washed out The chess 
and wheat stems were then carefully placed 
together so that neither interfered with the 
other and by a gentle steady pull the two inter¬ 
mingled roots were separated without break¬ 
ing a fiber, showing the two plants to be per¬ 
fectly distinct. 
We have received the following note from 
Mr. Will. W. Tracy, the superintendent hor¬ 
ticulturist of D. M. Ferry & Co., of Detroit, 
Mich. “ In a late Rural you speak of peas 
having 14 peas in a pod as something not yet 
seen. Last season I found a number of pods 
of the Marvel, a new English variety, with 
13 well formed peas, and this Summer I find 
12 in both the Marvel and Culverweil’s Giant 
Marrow, but, what I think more remarkable, 
I find pods of Premium Gem with 10, I never 
having seen more than eight heretofore. Con¬ 
cerning the crossing of wheat, it seems to me 
the Trei dwell variety offers conclusive proof 
of the correctness of your view. This consists 
of bald and bearded wheat and has been 
grown in this mixed condition for years, yet 
if we separate the two they come perfectly 
true and unmixed. Concerning peas mixing, 
however, seed pea growers frequently see 
evidence of their doing so. When two dis. 
tinct varieties are planted side by side, the 
peas show marked indications of both sorts. 
Again, I have a pea said to have been pro¬ 
duced by crossing the Alpha with the Ameri¬ 
can Wonder, which has the peculiar fruiting 
habit and long vine of the Alpha united with 
the equally distinct branching habit of the 
American Wonder. Since the attempt was 
made to cross these two, is it probable if it was 
not sue cessful that there should be a sport 
which showed so clearly characteristics of both 
sorts?... 
Mr. J. S. Woodward of Loekport, N. Y. 
sowed less tbantwo acres of Champion Amber 
Wheat, says the Rural Home, and from the 
number of bundles estimates a yield of over 
100 bushels. Mr. Woodward kindly sent us 
specimen heads of this wheat. They average 
rather over three inches in length and are 
nearly beardless. There are seven breasts to 
a side and generally four kernels to a breast. 
Herein no doubt we have the secret of its 
heavy yield. This wheat is very hardy and 
bears amber kernels of average size. 
CATALOGUES, ETC., 
B. L. Ryder & Sons, Chambersburg, 
Franklin Co., Pa.—Pamphlet of a “Choice 
selection of Strawberry Plants.” Standard 
old and new, and select new sorts. Also an 
illustrated pamphlet of Veneer Plunt Boxes, 
propagating and shipping crates, layering 
implements. These “ veneer" boxes, which we 
have seen, are an ingenious and simple contri. 
vance, and cost but $2.50 per thousand. The 
pamphlets will be sent ou applicaticn. 
P. J. Bkrck.mans, Augusta, Ga.—Fruitland 
Nurseries. Descriptive Catalogue, No. I, of 
Fruit and Ornamental Trees, shrubs, roses, 
evergreeu*, &c. Also Catalogue No. 4, or 
Fruits adapted to Florida and the Coast Belt 
of the Southern States. 
Prospectus of the Storrs Agricultural 
School, Mansfield, Conn. 
THE STORY OF STONY BROOK FARM. 
HENRY STEWART. 
CHAPTER X. 
(Continued from page 626.) 
It is not to be supposed that Defiance 
Bartlett was a monster, or inhuman. Men 
and women are creatures of their peculiar 
circumstances and their environments, out of 
which grow their training and education. 
This man was a type of a large class, who 
believe, or act as if they believed, 
that women are inferior to men physi¬ 
cally, mentally, morally, and should be 
subordinate in position; that in fact women 
are made to be tfie mere servants to men. He 
was a type also of a class of persons whose 
religion is of that literal, narrow, slavish, 
kind, which i« nimble to dislinguish between 
the necessities of an age and civilization, long 
since passed away and become obsolete, and 
the requirements of the present in which a 
larger measure of intelligence at once confess 
and demands an equivalent measure of free¬ 
dom. In his treatment of his patient willing 
and uncomplaining wife he copied the man¬ 
ners which prevailed in those dark ages when 
women were slaves, and the man their lords 
and masters. When he sat down to meals 
with his hired man, or men, at such times 
when work was pressing, and extra help was 
required, he thought it no hardship that his 
wife should wait on the table, after having 
spent the morning in the labors of the kitcheD, 
and serve him and his men, waiting until they 
were served before she took her own meal. 
Nor did he hesitate to heap still more work 
upon her, in addition to that of the household, 
when her help oould be of service iu the field. 
At corn planting or hoeing, or harvesting or 
thrashing, when one more pair of hands were 
needed, the wife was called from the kitchen 
to take her unequal share of the work; and no 
thought was given to the fact that the usual 
meals would be expected at the regular hours. 
Many a time, when born down by over¬ 
work, this poor woman failed to be ready at 
her husbands demauds, did he repeat the oft 
told story how his mother not only kept the 
house in order, but shared in the farm work, 
and spun the wool and knitted the stockings 
for the family, and made the yarn for the old 
fashioned homespun blankets, and prepared 
all the family clothing. Moreover at times 
when the butter and eggs were to be taken to 
market, she mounted a horse and carried her 
well filled basket to the village store and re¬ 
turned with her load of groceries. And 
because some of these labors wt re no longer 
demanded, and the need for them had passed 
away, he thought women h d very easy times 
and might very well turn a hand to other 
work to keep their measure full. At times too 
he read with great unction the story of the 
industrious housewife who “ rose before it 
was day and prepared the meat for her house¬ 
hold and whose hands were occupied with the 
distaff,” and of whom it was not related that 
she was ever weary or needed rest, or ever 
rested or knew she had a mind or a soul to be 
cared for. He resisted,too,long and stoutly,the 
determination of his wife that his daughter 
Patience should have a finished education 
and only gave a sullen sort of consent, when 
her mother declared that in this at least she 
would have her own way, and devoted her 
own little property, which she had hoarded 
from girlhood, to meet the necessary expenses. 
“It was turning the gal’s head" he said “ and 
was no sort of a thing for a farmer’s gal to be 
wasting her time over books and music, when 
there was cows to milk and butter to be made.” 
But in time when he found that these did not 
after all interfere with the milking and the 
butter making, but, as he was shrewd enough 
soon to see, the one helped the other, and his 
daughter’s hands were as dept at the milking 
and the churning as they were at the fancy 
work with which she adorned the house, he 
said no more about it, and he even learned 
too in time, after his wife had been laid away 
in her long resting place, to go gently and 
open the kitchen door, as he sat before the 
glowing kitchen fire, employed with his even¬ 
ing pipe, and his own reflections, which were 
sometimes disagreeable enough, so that he 
could listen to the music which came from the 
piano in the best room; a room into which he 
had not eutered since his wife was carried 
from it and the harmony would even quiet 
down his restlessness and bring a strange 
peace to him. 
Did this man ever realize that this poor wife 
was sacrificed to his brutal treatment, as he 
sat hour after hour gazing into the fire until 
the blazing logs m« lted away into embers and 
these glowed less and less brightly until their 
light scarcely cast a shadow on the glaring 
white kitchen walls ? Certain it was, tha t be 
made no such exacting demands upon his 
daughter Patience, and left her very much to 
