96 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Meetings of the State Horticultural Society were attended at Hart 

 and at Lawton and at the latter place a paper on grape diseases was 

 presented and illustrated with specially prepared stereopticon slides 

 A paper on fungus diseases of plants was also read at the Roundup 

 Farmers' Institute at Owosso with stereopticon illustrations. 



Most of the slides used were specially prepared and colored for the 

 occasion. 



Several inquiries were received during the winter in relation to dis- 

 eases of greenhouse lettuce. Some of these fungous diseases are very 

 destructive to certain varieties of lettuce, especially the head varieties, 

 when grown in the greenhouse. This was very noticeable in the forc- 

 ing houses at the college. One of the commonest of the fungi causing 

 the rotting of lettuce is Botrytis vulgaris or Gray Mould. Another par- 

 asitic fungus on lettuce reported from Grand Rapids, was the Anthrac- 

 nose or ''leaf perforation" disease (Marsonia porforaus). It has also 

 been noticed that tomato plants grown after lettuce in the same soil 

 are frequently attacked by the gray mould. Damping off of seedling 

 melons has also been reported from one correspondent. A variety of 

 other parasitic fungi have been sent in for identification and remedies. 



The examination of clover, grass and other farm seeds for foreign mat- 

 ter and weed seeds and the testing for germination has taken consider- 

 able time. Numerous specimens of weeds with inquiries regarding their 

 nature and the best means of combating them are being constantly re- 

 ceived at the present time. 



Another line of work in the nature of a specialty, has been the study 

 of our native mushrooms and toadstools. Bulletin 208 relates to a few 

 of the edible species in tlii? grou]) of fungi and is preliminary to other 

 intended publications along this line. A large part of the illustrations 

 and other matter in this bulletin had been accumulated for another pur- 

 pose prior to my appointment as botanist of the station, 



A paper has also been prepared giving directions for collection and 

 study of fleshy fungi to become part of a circular for distribution among 

 the high schools of the State. This circular is the outcome of the forma- 

 tion of a Nature Study Bureau organized in connection with the Mich- 

 igan Academy of Science and the botanist of the station has consented 

 to identify specimens of fungi which are sent in by teachers and others. 

 This already forms quite an important part of the correspondence of the 

 botanist. Another paper of the same nature has been prepared for pre- 

 sentation to the Detroit Mycological Ghib and numerous labeled speci- 

 mens prepared to illustrate the subject. 



Two interesting discoveries relating to parasitic fungus diseases of 

 plants have been made this spring. One is the perithecial stage of the 

 apple scab (Venturia dendritica). This stage has not been recognized 

 here before and serves to familiarize the botanist with a somewhat re- 

 cently discovered form of this common and serious disease. 



The other fungus is the sclerotium-spore stage of the brown rot of 

 plum, i)each and cherry sclerotinia fructigena. This spore form was 

 first discovered by Mr. J. B. S. Norton, botanist of the Maryland experi- 

 ment station in 1902 and has thus been reported by him onl_y. 



Respectfully submitted, 



B. O. LONGYEAR, Botanist. 

 Agricultural College, Mich., 

 June 30, 1903. 



