BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, 401 



Sweet-potato diseases. — During the past year investigations of 

 dry-rot and of stem-rot of the sweet potato were materially advanced. 

 To complete the studies of these and other important maladies of this 

 crop will yet require much attention. 



RusT-RESisTANT ASPARAGUS. — Positive successful pcsults in breeding 

 asparagus for rust resistance are in sight. Several thousand pedi- 

 greed seedlings of great rust-resistant quality are being grown at 

 Concord, Mass. Small lots will be distributed for trial, and a seed- 

 growing field established where cross-pollination with nonresistant 

 asparagus can be avoided. 



Ginseng diseases. — The cooperative work with the Cornell Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station, begun last year, has been continued. 

 The field work covers the principal ginseng-gi-owing States. 



FoRAGE-CROP DISEASES. — Cowpca discase work, having primary ref- 

 erence to the production of varieties resistant to wilt and root-knot, 

 has been continued. Diseases of alfalfa, clover, and soy beans invite 

 study, but only incidental attention can be given them, because of 

 the necessity of using the funds for other work. 



Sugar-beet investigations. — The sugar-beet leaf-spot work at 

 Roclcy Ford, Colo., is to be continued for two years more. A thor- 

 ough study of root-rot and damping-off is under way at Madison, 

 Wis. A study of the failure of beets to produce seed is being made. 

 Tests of cultural methods for sugar beets at Garden City, Kans., at 

 Ogden, Utah, and at three other stations is to be extended to other 

 districts. 



The improvement of sugar beets and the production of American 

 seed is being given increased attention. Laboratory facilities for 

 about 60,000 analyses have been provided through the cooperation 

 of companies interested. Cooperating firms propose to engage in the 

 production of seed, and the outbreak indicates that one or more of 

 the great European breeders will soon establish American branches. 



Other sugar plants. — Experiments in the culture and diseases of 

 sugar cane are being inaugurated in Texas. It is necessary to build 

 up a staff of si^ecialists and establish field stations for this work. 



The laboratory work on the maple-sap problem has been com- 

 pleted, and the results prepared for publication by the Vermont 

 Agricultural Experiment Station. Preliminary tests already made 

 indicate that it will be possible to so improve the sugar content and 

 purity of sorglunn by modern plant-breeding methods as to greatly 

 promote sirup production. 



CROP PHYSIOLOGY AND BREEDING INVESTIGATIONS. 



The investigations in crop physiology and breeding have been con- 

 tinued under the direction of Mr. Walter T. Swindle. 



't^' 



Cooperative work on Indian reskrvations. — The cooperative 

 work on the Indian reservations of the Southwest has developed in a 

 highly satisfactory manner during (lie past year. Experiments in 

 growing Egyptian cotton have proved that a very superior cotton 

 can be profitably grown by the Indians and the white settlers in the 

 irrigated valleys of southern Arizona. 



70481'— AGR 1912 26 



