EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 265 



PFBLTCATIOXS. 



The following publications have been made or are in the course of 

 publication at this time: 



The Stinking Smut of Wheal — G. H. Louns. Extension Circ. 17. 



Michigan Plant Diseases of 1918— G. H. Coons. 



Potato Diseases in Michigan in 1918 — E. F. Woodcock. 



Formaldehyde Injury to Grains — G. H. Coons and H. H. McKinney. 

 Twentieth Rept. Mich. Acad. Sci. 



Injury to Vegetation by Phenol fumes — G. H. Coons and Gene^-ieve 

 Gillette. Twentieth Rept. ':Mich. Acad. Sci. 



RECOMMEXDATIOXS. 



In consideration of the wide range of work which is demanded of me 

 in fulfiUing the requests which come to the section from people in 

 the State, permit me to urge the fact that one or two additional research 

 assistants who are capable of taking charge of a Line of endeavor, such as 

 Mr. Nelson does, are necessary to get quickest results in many of the lines 

 of investigation being carried on at the Station. Potato diseases are so 

 important that a man should be pro^■ided for full time work. Similarly 

 greenhouse and truck crop diseases should have a full time man to carrv* 

 on most efficient investigations. The work I have been able to do has been 

 limited and for the most part carried on through graduate students or 

 through under-graduate assistants. The direction of this work takes 

 much time away from my regular Knes of research. 



Most imperative in the carr^'ing out of our work is the need for an- 

 other greenhouse, fully as large or larger than the present one. The pres- 

 ent greenhouse is used for five purposes, which, in spite of the most amic- 

 able relaticns in the section, interfere one with another. These 

 uses of the present greenhouse are as follows: First, the greenhouse fur- 

 nishes classroom material for all the teaching work in botany and plant 

 pathology. Second, there is carried here a considerable stock of orna- 

 mental plants, some of which are of use for demonstration purposes. 

 Third, the greenhouse is used by graduate students in plant pathology. 

 Fourth, the experimental work in plant physiology which is most im- 

 portant and exceedingly far-reaching in its significance, is carried on here. 

 Fifth, from 3 to 4 experiments in plant pathology work with diseased 

 plants are carried on in this area. 



It is evident from this showing that our greenhouse facUities are sadly 

 inadequate. It is a fact that 25 years ago the College as a whole had more 

 greenhouse space and was doing more for an infant industry — the green- 

 house business — than it is today. Considering the value of crops grown 

 under glass, alone, around Detroit, Grand Rapids, and every other city 

 of any size in ^lichigan, this condition is open to criticism. 



I wish respectfully to urge that you use every eft'ort to impress the 

 authorities of the institution with the inadequacy of the greenhouse facili- 

 ties of the College and the department, especiallj- to the end that more 

 money may be provided at once for more space. 



In order that this report may be complete and show the full activities 

 of the year, I will state that I have spent considerable time in extension 

 work. The chief activity has dealt with cereal seed treatment. The results 

 obtained are to the credit of the county agents of the State who have been 



