EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 299 



of plant diseases in order that diseased fruits will not be 

 presented for shipment. 



The work done on this project consists of two months' ob- 

 servational work done at Chicago with Michigan produce. 

 Mr. Kay Nelson, graduate assistant, was stationed in Chicago 

 in September and October, 101 G. Notes were made on condi- 

 tions of cars and pictures were taken of typical examples of 

 loss from transportational diseases. Although observations 

 were not made when the shipping season was at its height 

 enough was seen to prove conclusively we have here one of 

 the great leaks in Michigan agriculture. Many shipments ar- 

 rive in good condition and show no loss. Others arrive and 

 are subject to great depreciation. In part this is due to 

 faulty handling in the field or shipping point. This project 

 aims to make i)Ossible extension work with just this class of 

 shippers who are having trouble and who need advice. It is 

 proposed to station a man in Chicago to report losses to the 

 department and attempts will be made to advise such ship- 

 pers through the county men. 



The Avork done for the experiment station falls under three heads, 

 namely that done under the (1) Adams fund project, (2) the Hatch fund 

 projects, (3) and the various state fund projects. 



THE ADAMS FUND PROJECT. 



The formal statement of this project is as follows : 



To determine with some plant pathogenes of the Fungi Imperfect), 

 biological relations which may give a basis for identification and classi- 

 fication as well as understanding of physiological and life history prob- 

 lems. The Fungi Imperfecti form a group which at present has no 

 basis for classification other than a highly artificial one. Attention will 

 be concentrated on the section of the group represented by the genus 

 Phoma and its close allies. 



Attempt has been made to utilise the methods of diagnosis in use in 

 Animal Pathology in the solution of the problems involved in this pro- 

 ject. The work has been in cooperation with the members of the Bac- 

 teriology Department, which has furnished excellent facilities for the re- 

 search and has given helpful advice throughout. A start has been made 

 in outlining the methods to be followed and enough has been accomp- 

 lished to show the soundness and feasibility of the proposed method of 

 attack. 



It has been shown already in a preliminary way, that differences in 

 the protein content of fungi can be used for diagnostic purposes. For 

 example animals sensitized with a given species of fungus show anaphy- 

 lactic shock on subsequnt inoculations with the same species, but no re- 

 action with a different species. 



With a certain fungus, (the Fusarium causing aster wilt) aside from 

 the anaphylactic shock, a i^eculiar tyjie of posioning occurs. Aninuils 

 injected with a sufficient dose of ground mycelium and spores become 

 emaciated and die in 10 to 12 da.ys. 



Many aninuils show a natnral sensitiveness to Fusarium injections. 

 The explanation of this has not been determined. 



