Portion of Hollyhock Leat (right) from plant sprayed with Bordeaux, and one (left) from plant sprayed with Potash-Bordeaux. It will be seen that half of the lots were treated before planting, and the other half received sprayings with fungicides, there being a check for each of the two halves. The rows in the field were divided into ten equal portions, nearly fourteen feet to each section, and twenty corms were set in each, and in the order given in the above table, beginning with the northern end of the rows. The sprayings were eleven in number, and during the whole growing-season no difference was noted between the sprayed and unsprayed plants. The smooth surface and upright position of the gladiolus leaves prevent, in large measure, the satisfactory adhesion of the fungicides. In the corm-treated section there are some minor differences in the harvest. The lot of corms from the check section is the smallest, while the ones from where the corrosive sublimate and the sulphur were used are nearly equal and somewhat larger than the others. These corms are to be planted in the same ground next year, and the experiment is therefore not yet at an end. Experiments with China Asters. The row next to the sweet peas was set with six varieties of China asters from seed that has been sown in the greenhouse. This experiment was for the purpose of finding some way of getting control of the rust (Coleosporium Sonchi-arvensis?) that is often very abundant upon these plants. One variety of the asters was badly attacked and ruined by a stem blight; but the rust was almost entirely absent from all the plants. Experiments with Sweet Peas. A somewhat extensive series of tests was made with sweet peas with the hope of finding a remedy for the root and stem trouble so much complained of during the past few years. A single row in that portion of the experiment area devoted to ornamental plants was sown to sweet peas. The row was divided into sections nine feet long, and received treatment as indicated in the following table: Section 1. Seed placed upon surface, hilled up 5 inches. The sowings were upon June 29th, purposely late, in the hope that the root and stem troubles might thereby be more abundant. The plants in all the sections grew equally well, were very vigorous and showed no signs of the trouble. Experiments with Cosmos. One row of that portion of the experiment area devoted to ornamental plants was set to cosmos, and treated with fungicides, especially for the much-dreaded stem blight (Phlyctana sp.) The row was divided into six sections of twenty-three feet each. Two of these were checks and the other four were sprayed eight times, at intervals of ten days, with Bordeaux, soda bordeaux, potash-bordeaux and ammonia-bordeaux, respectively. Posts and wires were employed to keep the plants from breaking down and becoming prostrate upon the ground. The stem blight developed equally upon all the sections, and no favorable results were obtained for the fungicides. Experiments with Lawn Grasses. It was desired to have a grass border at each end of the experiment area, and opportunity offered for testing the comparative value of several lawn grasses. The strip of land upon the west side is about twenty-one feet wide at the upper end and narrows down to half that at the lower end. Along the roadside and separating it from the ground devoted to ornamental plants, nine kinds of grasses were tested upon as many small plots, 15 feet in one direction, and varying from 10 to 20 in the other. The following seeds were sown, beginning with the uppermost plot and nearest to the greenhouse : Per cent. of Stand. Plot. I. Meadow Fesque (Festuca pratensis Huds.) Kansas seed.................. 90 Plot II. Five-leafed Fesque (Festuca tenuifolia Sibth.) Imported seed......... Plot III. Sheep's Fesque (Festuca ovina L.) Imported seed 5 10 80 60 50 Plot IV. Rhode Island Bent (Agrostis canina L.) Rhode Island seed......... 90 .... 100 - All of these plots received the same treatment, which consisted in running the lawn mower over them to keep down the weeds. At the time of writing, November 17th, there is quite a difference between the several plots. Upon the basis of a stand of plants, in terms of percentages, the nine plots are as given at end of each line. It will be seen that the Rye grass and Redtop are both perfect, followed closely by the Rough-stalked Meadow grass and the Meadow Fesque. The Rhode Island bent is fifth, Wood Meadow sixth, Kentucky Blue grass seventh, while Sheep Fesque and Five-leaved Fesque were very poor. No mixtures were tested, but the results for the past season with sorts grown alone would indicate that the first five above named would give a satisfactory combination. The glossy richness of the foliage of the Rye grass was an object of remark. This is a coarse grass that would mix well with Redtop and the Meadow Fesque. The plots at the opposite end of the experiment area did not do so well, as they were in the shade, and were left without care as a severe test of their ability to endure neglect. They were much overgrown by weeds, and more time is needed before judgment can be passed upon this series of plots. The Herbarium. During the past year the accessions of the Station Mycological Herbarium have been a few hundred specimens, thus bringing the total up to about 21,000 and representing the following sets of fungi : Ellis and Everhart's North American Fungi......... 3,300 450 1,050 |