202 
The potassium sulphide was dissolved in the water and sprayed on 
the plants at once to avoid the chemical change which quickly takes 
place when the solution is allowed to stand exposed to the air. 
(10) Flowers of sulphur. 
The commercial article was used in the dry form. 
(11) Sulphosteatite. 
This preparation was furnished by C. II. Joosten, of New York. It is a fine greenish powder, con¬ 
sisting of 9 parts of steatite or talc and one part of finely-powdered copper sulphate. 
The ammoniacal solution of copper carbonate, containing 2 ounces of 
copper carbonate dissolved in 1 quart of ammonia and diluted with 22 
gallons of water was used as a basis in preparing numbers 1, 2, 4, 7, 
and 8 of the foregoing. Numbers 3, 5, and 6, containing iron, were 
double the strength of the copper preparations. As near as possible, 
therefore, plats treated with preparations 1,2, 4, 7, and 8 received 1.32 
grams of copper at each treatment, while plats treated with 3,5, and G 
received 2.64 grams of iron. It will be seen that in comparison with 
the well-known fungicides all the preparations were very weak, the 
Bordeaux mixture being less than one-fortieth the standard strength. 
A preliminary test was made of all the foregoing preparations, with 
the exception of numbers 10 and 11, to determine (1) their adhesiveness 
and (2) their power to wet the foliage. By adhesiveness is meant the 
resistance to removal by rain or dew. Power to wet the foliage really 
means an even distribution over the entire surface of the leaf. It was 
found after nearly a month’s work on oats, rye, wheat, and barley that 
no matter in what manner the solutions were applied, with the possible 
exception ot rubbing them on with the hand, none would spread out in 
a thin film over the leaf surface. When applied with an ordinary im¬ 
proved Vermorel nozzle the liquids would simply strike the leaf and 
roll oft iu drops. By using a large atomizer, thereby increasing the 
fineness of the spray, it was found possible to wet the leaves still more, 
but the result was far from satisfactory. Various substances, such as 
glue, gum arabic, molasses, honey, and milk were added to the prepara- 
tionsinthe hope thattliey would increase their wetting properties. Milk 
was found to be fairly satisfactory, but was discarded on account of 
expense. None of the other substances proved of value. Pi nally soap, 
which at the time we were not aware had before been used, was tried 
and was found to give better results than anything hitherto employed. 
After testing various brands, the Ivory soap was selected as the best 
suited to our wants. It was accordingly used throughout the experi¬ 
ment, combined with all the preparations except ferrous sulphate and 
ferric chloride solutions; these refused to unite with the soap, and con¬ 
sequently they were applied without it. After a number of trials the 
following method of using the soap was adopted: 
Seven 5 cent bars of Ivory soap were shaved up by 
means of a small 
