REIOET OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. XXXV 



increased yield. Important work was inaugurated in the South for 

 the purpose of improving v^arieties of cotton. Special efforts were 

 made to obtain by breeding- and selection races of cotton with a longer 

 and finer staple than that of the ordinary upland sorts. Already prom- 

 ising results have been obtained in this direction, and it is believed 

 that varieties can be secured which will be of great value in a number 

 of important cotton-growing districts. 



COOPERATION IN TOBACCO INVESTIGATIONS. 



The cooperative work with the Division of Soils on tobacco, started 

 two years ago, was continued. As a result of the work, it has been 

 found that the true cause of fermentation is not bacteria, as formerly 

 supposed, but chemical ferments produced by the tobacco plant itself. 

 This discovery has suggested important modifications of the old 

 methods of handling tobacco, which promise much improvement in 

 Northern cigar leaf tobacco. The practical application of the results 

 of these investigations will unquestionably be the means of adding 

 millions of dollars to the wealth of the countiy. Unfortunately, the 

 specialist who was engaged by the Government to carry on this work 

 was led to sever his connection with the Department by the very 

 flattering inducements offered him b}^ a foreign country. In addition 

 to the work on the fermentation of tobacco, much attention was given 

 to a stud}^ of diseases of this crop, and some results were obtained 

 which will go far toward bringing about methods of prevention. 



SUGAR-BEET DISEASES. 



The growing importance of the sugar beet in this countiy has called 

 attention to a number of ver}'- serious diseases which have prevailed, 

 especially during the past year. One of these diseases attracted wide- 

 spread attention in California, where it caused an estimated loss of 

 over $2,000,000. Every effort was made to obtain as much informa- 

 tion as possible in regard to the trouble, but owing to limited funds it 

 was not practicable to undertake a thorough study of the matter. 



DISEASES OF FOREST TREES. 



Special work on the diseases of forest trees was inaugurated and car- 

 ried on in cooperation with the Division of Forestry and the Shaw 

 School of Botany of St. Louis. The special agent in charge of this 

 work is instructor in botany in the Shaw School and has excellent facil- 

 ities for carrying on the investigations. The rapidly growing interest 

 in forestry problems has created a widespread demand for information 

 as to diseases affecting trees, and in recognition of this fact the work 

 has been pushed forward as rapidly as possible. 



