LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 Division of Vegetable Physiology and Pathology, 



Washington, D. C'., October 30, 1900. 



Sir: I respectfully transmit herewith a report by Mr. W. A. Orton, of 

 this Division, describing brief!}' the progress made in the study of the 

 Wilt Disease of Cotton, also known as "Frenching" and "Blight." 

 This disease has for several years done serious injury in many parts 

 of the cotton belt. The areas affected by it are annually increasing 

 in size, and each year brings to the Department repoi'ts of outbreaks 

 in localities hitherto supj)osed to be free from the malady. It is at 

 present a serious menace to the cotton industry. The parasitic nature 

 and life historv of the fungus causing the disease have been thoroughlv 

 discussed in a former report by Dr. Erwin F. Smith, of this Division. 

 The work of the Department on this disease is still in progress, but it 

 is thought best to jDresent a brief outline of the more important results 

 obtained up to this time. It has been found that certain races are 

 resistant to the malady, and results obtained in the experiments and 

 bj' certain growers cooperating Avith the Department indicate that 

 resistant strains can be obtained quite readily by selection. All other 

 methods of fighting the disease have so far proved ineffective. Every 

 effort will therefore be put forth to improve and develop these resistant 

 strains. 



I resijectfully recommend that this report be published as Bulletin 

 No. 27 of this Division. 



Respectfully, Albert F. Woods, 



Clt ief of Division . 



lion. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 

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