304 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The season was so dry that the Anthracnose did not develop to any 

 great extent. As far as the latter disease is concerned, there was little 

 difference between ordinary and Idaho grown Michigan seed. 



Last year Early Wonder beans were grown at Jerome, Idaho, under 

 irrigation. There beans showed a commercial pick of two pounds per 

 bushel of diseased seeds. The crop showed no Anthracnose and less 

 than 1% of the Blight. These results clearly show that Michigan beans 

 can be freed from the Anthracnose, and almost entirely rid of the Blight 

 by growing them in a hot, dry climate. 



To demonstrate the value of this Idaho grown seed, plats are being 

 grown, in cooperation with the County Agriculturists, by various grow- 

 ers in the following counties : Kent, Newaygo, Saginaw, Muskegon, Alle- 

 gan, St. Clair, Kalamazoo, Cheboygan, Alpena and Ottawa. In connec- 

 tion with this project demonstrations of the value of hill planting as 

 compared to row planting in the control of these bean diseases are be- 

 ing carried on by the growers. These demonstrations are being dupli- 

 cated on the College experimental plats. 



A girdling of bean stems at the nodes has been increasing in serious- 

 ness. This trouble has been proved to be caused by Bacterium phaseoli, 

 the causal parasite of the beau Blight. Preliminary field experiments 

 show that the bean Blight bacteria are carried by the wind, and that in- 

 fection spreads from individual diseased plants. Further field experi- 

 ments on the dissemination of this disease are under way. 



The results of three years' work on control measures for tlie bean 

 Anthracnose and bean Blight have been put into bulletin form. This 

 manuscript is now being revised preparatory to publication. 



Michigan grows a large acreage of peas for canning purposes and for 

 seed. In 1914 a bacterial disease of peas was reported from Newaygo 

 county, specimens sent in to the department and the casual organism 

 isolated. This disease is reported from Wisconsin, Idaho, Montana and 

 Colorado, where most of the seed is grown. It was found in this state 

 that peas from Idaho and Montana seed were affected in varying de- 

 grees by this bacterial disease, while in only one case was it found in a 

 field of Michigan grown seed. If we are to protect our pea industry 

 from this disease, which in many cases destroyed whole fields this year, 

 the origin of the disease on the seed should be found and canners warned 

 to not use seed from infected areas. 



The Septoria and Ascochyta diseases of pea leaves, stems and pods 

 are prevalent this year, although the damage to the green crop is not 

 severe. A root rot caused by Rhizoctonia is causing a great deal of dam- 

 age to peas in practically every locality visited. This is to be expected 

 in a year when the soil is so moist and the weather cool. 



Cross inoculation experiments with the Ascochyta disease of vetch, 

 sweet clover and peas are still in progress. 



Very truly yours, 



J. H. MUNCIE, 

 Assistant in Plant Pathology. 



