BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 257 



From September 1, 1922, to August 31, 1923, changes in the per- 

 sonnel of the bureau were as follows: Appointments, 1,184, of which 

 308 were permanent and 876 temporary; retirement, 1; resigna- 

 tions and terminations, 943, of which 229 were permanent employees 

 and 714 temporary workers. There were 22 transfers, and 40 fur- 

 loughs were granted. Five employees died during the year. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



The new publications of the bureau (Department Bulletins, Farm- 

 ers' Bulletins, Department Circulars, and miscellaneous documents, 

 with contributions to the Yearbook and to the Journal of Agri- 

 cultural Research) numbered 119, of which 16 were joint contribu- 

 tions with educational institutions. State agricultural experiment 

 stations, or with other bureaus or offices of the department. These 

 119 publications contain 3,802 pages, 404 full-page plates, and 853 

 text figures, and were issued in first editions aggregating 1,169,585 

 copies. 



The contributions of this bureau to the series of Farmers' Bul- 

 letins numbered 17; Department Bulletins, 35; Department Cir- 

 culars, 16 ; and to the Journal of Agricultural Research, 36. These 

 publications show in considerable detail some of the activities of the 

 bureau. 



The following statement outlines the work of the bureau not other- 

 wise recorded, summarizing the status of the most significant accom- 

 plishments during the past fiscal year. 



FIELD CROPS. 



WHEAT. 



Bunt. — Strains of wheat immune or highly resistant to bunt, or 

 stinking smut, have been obtained from hybrids and selections of 

 commercial varieties in cooperation with the State stations in 

 Oregon, Washington, and California. These now are being tested 

 for jdeld, milling and hairing quality, and other factors. In ad- 

 dition to Ridit, which is being commercialized, two immune strains. 

 Hussar and Martin, and several other very resistant strains, includ- 

 ing White Odessa, Sherman, and several selections of Turkey, are 

 being extensively tested. 



Flag smut. — Numerous varieties and strains of wheat were grown 

 in connection with flag-smut studies in cooperation with the Illinois 

 station. In addition, about 200 head rows were grown to determine 

 resistance to the disease. Notes recorded by the pathologists show 

 several of the lots tested to be highly resistant to or immune from 

 the disease. Several hundred heads were selected for continuing 

 the experiment. The Shepherd variety is being increased, and 

 several other strains are being increased on a smaller scale but as 

 rapidly as possible. The results show the possibility of controlling 

 flag smut by the use of resistant varieties. What was looked upon 

 at the time of its discovery a few years ago as a very serious and 

 threatening disease has been deprived thereby of much of its menace. 

 Serious losses from it can be avoided in the future by growing 

 strains known to be immune. 



