64 EEPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



botany from July to September of last year, and again in 

 plant anatomy from November to February. Two stu- 

 dents from the Punjab undergoing a general course in 

 agriculture, joined on the 1st June, 1909. The Assistant 

 Mycologist, Bengal, who returned to Pusa in March, 1908, 

 has remained in this laboratory pending the provision 

 of accommodation for him at Bhagalpore. The prospects 

 of assistants in the agricultural departments appear to 

 have been hitherto insufficient to attract good men. 



4. Organisation. — Much time has still to be given to 

 organising the work particularly to meet the require- 

 ments of provincial departments. Collections have to be 

 accumulated and worked out vfith what voluntary assist- 

 ance can be got outside India. Duplicate collections will 

 be, as far as possible, supplied to provincial departments 

 which already have mycological assistants. Annotated 

 specimens of Mildews and of Ascomycetes have been sent 

 to Mr. Salmon of Wye College and to Messrs. H. and P. 

 Sydow of Berlin, respectively, to be worked out for exten- 

 sion of the general survey of Indian parasitic fungi. 

 Collections of diseased plants received from the Central 

 Provinces, Bengal, Bombay, Burma and Madras, have been 

 worked out and returned, and these will be gradually 

 extended, as further material becomes available. 



In the provinces, the question of the best means of 

 expanding mycological work was considered by the Board 

 of Agriculture which sat at Pusa in February, 1908. A 

 small special staff of Indian assistants to be formed in 

 each provincial department was recommended, their 

 duties being defined as assisting the research work of tH<^ 

 Pusa staff and conducting the training at the colleges. 

 The ordinary staff of agricultural assistants should under- 

 take such practical field work in preventing diseases 

 as is necessary. In each province there will probably be 

 appointed one assistant professor of mycology at the 

 college and one assistant for work outside the central 

 station. This will form a beginning which can be extend- 

 ed ultimately. 



