Report of the President. 9 



of variation, which lies at the foundation of all breeding work, and 

 these studies are being supplemented by investigations on the laws of 

 heredity in hybridization, the cumulative action of selection, and the 

 influence of environment in species and variety formation. 



The extension work of this department is expected to be limited 

 but a number of lectures have been delivered before farmers' meetings 

 and co-operative breeding experiments have been arranged with about 

 twenty-five farmers in various parts of the State. 



IV. Department of Plant Physiology. — Both the teaching and investi- 

 gation work in this department began February i, 1908. The depart- 

 ment receives no Federal funds for research but it is hoped to make 

 investigations, both fundamental and practical, an important phase 

 of the work. The special lines now receiving attention are (i) ob- 

 servations on environmental factors in relation to the growth of 

 field crops, (2) a fundamental study of the effects on the plants of 

 environmental factors by isolation methods, (3) shade tent investiga- 

 tions to determine the effects of shading on the minute structure and 

 composition of plants, (4) stimulation experiments by the use of non- 

 nutrient salts, (5) nitrogen fixation by fungi, etc. 



V. Department of Plant Pathology. — The research work of this de- 

 partment has been directed toward the further investigation of grape 

 diseases, particularly the black-rot of grape, the base of operations 

 having been changed from the Lansing vineyards to other infected 

 vineyards in the vicinity of Romulus. The investigator in charge was 

 on the ground throughout the entire season and much valuable data 

 has been collected regarding dissemination, infection, and methods of 

 control. The investigation of diseases affecting the bean crop have 

 also been continued, the field laboratory for this work being located 

 on the farms of the Burt Olney Canning Company of Oneida, while 

 considerable attention was also devoted to the study of the black-rot 

 of gladiolas, the apple scab fungus, hollyhock diseases, the peach leaf 

 curl, and fire blight in nurseries. 



On the side of extension work the department has carried on a large 

 correspondence with individual farmers throughout the State answer- 

 ing specific inquiries in regard to crop diseases, this correspondence 

 approximating during some months as many as 200 letters per week. 

 Much good has also been accomplished by the exhibits which have 

 been made at the State and county fairs, which will hereafter be a 

 fixed feature of the extension work in all departments. 



VI. Department of Soils. — In addition to giving instruction to 166 

 registered students during the College year, this department has been 



