REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



To the Director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experi- 

 inent Station : 



Sir. — I have the honor to present the following report of the 

 work of the Botanical Division for the past year.. 



The investigations on the edible and poisonous species of mush- 

 rooms, which have been in progress for several years, have been 

 continued, and considerable information upon the development of 

 "certain species, as well as on the presence of species new to the 

 United States, has been gained. These investigations are of such a 

 nature that they must be continued for many years to come, but tlie 

 new information is available for the publication of brief bulletins 

 from time to time, in which the matter of economic importance can 

 be brought before our constituents. Likewise the investigations on 

 the diseases of timber caused by fungi are continued, and a fund of 

 useful information is thus being brought together. 



Mr. W. A. Murrill, the Assistant Cryptogamic Botanist appointed 

 for the past year, has been prompt and successful in the discharge 

 of his duties. He has been engaged separately in certain investiga- 

 tions, and jointly with myself in others. He published a short bul- 

 letin of inquiry on a root and trunk injury of apple trees, " The 

 Crown Disease of the King Apple," Cornell University Agricultu- 

 ral Experiment Station, Oct. 31, 1899. 



He has continued some investigations begun by Dr. Duggar, on 

 the prevention of leaf curl of the peach, the results of which were 

 published in one of the bulletins, " The Prevention of Peach Leaf 

 Curl." Bulletin 180, March, 1900. Botanical Division Cornell 

 University Agricultural Experiment Station. These results indicate 

 that this serious disease can be checked if promptly and properly 

 treated. 



Conjointly with myself he has been engaged in a study of the 



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