203 
plane. The shavings were placed in a tin watering can and about 1 
gallon of water added. The can at as then placed on a small oil stove 
and slowly heated until the soap was dissolved. When completely dis¬ 
solved, 1 quart of the liquid, or about one-fourth of the contents of 
the can, was added to each solution. A complete mixture was affected 
by pumping the liquid back into itself, using a small hand pump for 
the purpose. In every case the soap readily mixed with the solutions, 
forming a frothy, slimy fluid which dispersed itself over the leaf in a 
fairly satisfactory manner. It may be well at this point to explain 
why it is so difficult to wet the foliage of wheat, oats, and allied plants. 
A microscopic examination of the leaves, sheaths, and culms in many 
cases reveals the fact that they are covered with an exceedingly thin 
layer of granular wax, which not only prevents the entrance of water 
to the tissues from without, but also probably acts as a check to trans¬ 
piration. The wax undoubtedly protects the plants in other ways, but 
of these and similar questions bearing on the same subject it is unnec¬ 
essary to speak here. 
METHODS OF APPLYING THE LIQUIDS AND POWDERS. 
The liquids were all applied with a small double-acting force pump 
which has been used by the Division for several years in spraying ex¬ 
periments. The pump was provided with a Vermorel nozzle attached 
to a lance 2£ feet long. The lance in turn w r as attached to the pump 
by means of a piece of ^-incli cloth insertion hose 4 feet long. The solu¬ 
tions were prepared in a 3-gallon bucket and sprayed from it directly 
upon the plants. With this apparatus a plat, even after the wheat 
w as nearly grown, could be thoroughly sprayed in three minutes. The 
powders were applied part of the time by hand and part of the time 
with a small hand bellows. In the soil treatments the fungicide was 
sprayed or dusted into the bottom of the drills and the seed planted di¬ 
rectly upon it. 
Having now considered the questions of a general nature connected 
with the work, the detailed observations made at the time of the vari¬ 
ous treatments may be taken up. 
DETAILED OBSERVATIONS ON THE TREATMENTS. 
v 
First treatment (November 14 , 1891 ).—The plants at this time were 
from 2 to 4 inches high and show ed no signs of rust or any other dis¬ 
ease. In some of the soil and seed treatments the grain had not 
sprouted. It was decided, however, to make no observations on any of 
these plats until it was plainly apparent that the seed was killed. A 
careful examination of all the plats sprayed and dusted revealed the 
fact that potassium sulphide wars the only preparation that had injured 
the foliage. The tips of the leaves sprayed with this chemical w ere, in 
nearly every case, whitened and shriveled. As regards the wetting 
power of the various preparations it may be stated that the ferrous 
