REPORT OF BOTANIST. 



To the Director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment 

 Statio7i. 

 Sir : 



During the year investigations have been conducted upon the 

 diseases of trees, cultivated plants, and upon edible and 

 poisonous fungi. Along with the studies of the edible and pois- 

 onous mushrooms, a large number of photographs have been 

 added to those heretofore made, and descriptive studies and deter- 

 mination of plants has added to the material available for future 

 bulletins. These are designed to be educational helps for the 

 purpose of spreading a popular and yet accurate knowledge of 

 certain species which are useful as food. One bulletin (i68) the 

 second in the series of "Studies and Illustrations of Mush- 

 rooms, II," dealing with Three Edible Species of Coprinus has 

 been published. 



In the investigations on the diseases of trees a large number 

 of photographs have also been made and material collected which 

 shows in many cases characteristic injuries due to certain species 

 of the w^ood destroying fungi. Some of the results show defi- 

 nitel}^ the mode of attack of the fungus and the progress of the 

 disease in the timber trees. 



The investigations carried on by Dr. B. M. Duggar have been 

 chiefl}' upon three diseases of the sugar beets, and upon the pre- 

 vention of the leaf curl of the peach. Two bulletins written 

 b}^ Mr. Duggar have been published as follows : 



No. 163 — " Three Important Diseases of the Sugar Beet. " 



No. 164 — "Peach Leaf -Curl and Notes on the Shot-hole Effect 

 of Peaches and Plums." 



In Bulletin No. 163 Mr. Duggar treats of the three diseases 

 which have been of economic importance on the sugar beet in 

 New York State. The root rot of beets (Rhizoctonia betae) is 

 a new disease on the beet for the eastern states. Mr. Duggar's 

 studies have shown the conditions which are favotable for the 



