Division of Cryptogamio Botany and Plant Pathology 15 



Material for a bulletin on "Damping Off '■ is nearly ready for 

 press. It was intended to present this for publication nearly a 

 year ago, but several important points in the development of 

 some of the fungi and in the pathological relations of others 

 arose in the investigation which prolonged the study until the 

 present time. Though the study of some of the species is far 

 from complete, it seems best to present the matter for publication 

 now and not wait until the accumulated mass of observations 

 shall be so great as to prevent altogether its publication. 



For several years material and observations have been accumu- 

 lating for a profusely illustrated bulletin on the rusts of poma- 

 ceous fruits. This may be ready for publication in the course of a 

 year. For more than a year investigations have been in progress 

 in the laboratory upon a number of entomogenous fungi. The 

 question has been for a number of years and still is an open one 

 concerning the practicability of the use by artificial inoculation 

 of entomogenous fungi in the propagation and spread of diseases 

 among certain insect enemies of cultivated plants. The present 

 investigation deals chiefly with the artificial propagation of about 

 20 species of insect inhabiting fungi. It includes a thorough 

 study of the morphology and development of nearly all the 

 species. In several cases preliminary inoculation experiments 

 have been conducted, in some instances with success. The study 

 has been instructive in the technique of manipulating artificial 

 cultures with certain species, and several important phases in the 

 development and polymorphy of some species have been induced. 

 The work is fully illustrated and will be ready for publication in 



a few months. 



The group of fungi, known as anthracnoses, consists of a very 

 large number of parasitic species. Many of these are responsible 

 for quite serious and important troubles of fruit and other culti- 

 vated plants. From time to time during the last five years 

 studies by means of artificial cultures have been carried on in an 



