NEw YorRK AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 127 
years (1899-1902) an acre of cabbage was devoted to the experi- 
ment, one-half the acre being treated and the other half left un- 
treated for a check. During the first three years of the experiment 
so little black rot appeared in the experiment field that no conclu- 
sions could be drawn; but in 1902 the disease was abundant and 
the conditions excellent for the test. The results were disappoint- 
ing. “The treatment was even more than a complete failure. It 
not only failed to prevent the disease, but actually reduced the yield 
by 5.25 tons per acre.” 44 The worthlessness of the treatment was 
so thoroughly demonstrated that further experimentation with it 
was abandoned. However, investigations on the disease were con- 
tinued, one of the chief objects being to determine by what agencies 
the disease is spread. It was discovered that seed-bearing plants 
are subject to black rot and that the germ causing the disease is 
present on the seed of such plants. Moreover, it was proven that 
the black rot germs may remain alive on the seed for at least 
eleven months. These were important discoveries, since they show 
that the disease may be transmitted by the seed. As a cheap, safe 
and effective method of destroying the germs on the seed the Sta- 
tion recommends soaking the seed, just before planting, for fifteen 
minutes in a 1:1000 corrosive sublimate solution or:a 0.4 per ct. 
formalin solution. It is not expected that this treatment will give 
complete protection against black rot, but it will certainly remove 
all danger of infection from disease germs on the seed. 
Since about 1900 the Station, cooperating with the Vermont 
Station, has had under investigation a bacterial soft rot*® of cab- 
bage and cauliflower which is especially destructive to seed cabbage 
on Long Island, where this crop is an important one. Only a pre- 
liminary report of this work has been published. 
CARNATION. 
The Legislature of 1894 made a special appropriation for Station 
investigations in the Second Judicial Department, which includes 
Long Island and five counties north of New York city. Flori- 
cultural interests being large in this part of the State, it‘was decided 
to use a part of the appropriation for the investigation of green- 
house pests. The replies to a circular letter of inquiry sent out 
* Bul. 232 (1903); same in Rpt. 22:85-107. 
“Bul. 251 (1904); same in Rpt. 23:62-78. 
* Bacillus carotovorus Jones. 
“ Science, n. s., 16:314 (1902). 
