128 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The goats succeeded in clearing a portion of this land perfectly and 

 thrived well on the rations thereby provided. The remaining goats are 

 now being used by Mr. S. M. McKee of Portland, Mich., in a cooperative 

 experiment to determine their ability to destroy thistles and weeds. 



Yours respectfully, 



R. S. SHAW. 

 Agricultural College, Mich. 

 June 30, 1904. 



REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



To the Director of the Agricultural College Experiment Station: 



I herewith submit a brief outline of the work done by the Botanist of 

 the Station during the year ending June 30, 1904: 



During August, 1903, nearly one week was spent in the vicinity of 

 West Olive in Ottawa county, investigating the flora of that region with 

 reference to some possible connection between the plants growing there 

 and the prevalence of the so-called "Lake Shore Cattle Disease." My 

 report, which has already been handed you, shows that in all probability 

 this peculiar ailment is in no way due to the eating of poisonous plants 

 by the cattle affected; also that the trouble is confined to the water- 

 washed sands adjoining the shore of the lake. 



During the summer and autumn of last year comparative studies were 

 made of twenty-three species of vetches which were growing on the 

 exj)erimental plots. Detailed descriptions were made of each so-called 

 species and an analytical key was constructed to aid in their classifica- 

 tion. Photographs were also made to illustrate the typical forms and 

 the characters used in constructing the key. A number of the species 

 were found to be practically synonymous judging from the material at 

 hand; but as there is some possibility that the seed from which the 

 plants w^ere grown w'as not true to name, it seems hardly advisable to 

 publish the descriptions and key without first proving the authenticity 

 of the specimens. 



A number of photographs of edible and poisonous fleshy fungi were 

 taken during the past season with the intention of using them for illus- 

 trating another bulletin on Michigan mushrooms. A large number of 

 fleshy fungi have been identified by the botanist for correspondents in 

 various parts of the State; in fact this subject is steadily gaining inter- 

 est on the part of many persons. 



Those fungi which are the cause of specific diseases of plants have 

 occupied much of the botanist's time and attention. In this connection 

 Special Bulletin No. 25 "Fungous Diseases of Fruit" has required much 

 labor in preparation. The cuts, forty-two in number, are with two ex- 

 ceptions, original and show the most recent knowledge of our structure 

 of the disease organisms described. It is proposed to continue this 

 work during the coming season, the diseases of vegetable and garden 

 crops being next in order. 



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