366 Chief of a Laboratory of Plant Pathology 



varieties. A new method of securing pastures of Bermuda grass 

 from seed had been shown to be of much value in the south. The 

 possibihties of growing rubber, coffee, banana, and cacao were 

 indicated, and methods for cultivating many other tropical pro- 

 ducts were being improved.^" Pineapple culture was being studied. 

 Hundreds of crosses for vigor, quality, largeness of fruit, and 

 disease-resistance, had been made.^^ These were a few from many 

 other examples. 



Among the western states, the value of Pierce's hybrid disease- 

 resistant grapes had been demonstrated in California. New 

 varieties of prunes had been introduced along the Pacific Coast. 

 In the arid southwest dates from Egypt and Algeria were being 

 planted and grown. The introduction of many new, or the amelio- 

 ration of many old, horticultural products in states of the far and 

 central west was transforming agriculture from a condition of bare 

 subsistence in many places to one of abundance or at least a 

 promise of plenty. The demonstration of the practicability of 

 growing macaroni wheat, the extensive importation of seed, and 

 the establishment of factories made possible competition with the 

 foreign product and saved the nation millions annually. 



Improved hops and barley were imported and disseminated. 

 New forage crops were secured for the entire country. The dis- 

 covery of new methods for growing nitrogen-gathering bacteria 

 made practicable the cultivation of leguminous crops in many new 

 regions. Western ranges were being improved. American-grown 

 clover had been shown to be superior over seed from foreign 

 sources. Blue grass seed was harvested and handled by new 

 methods, and the crop's value enhanced from thirty to forty per 

 cent. Better transportation facilities for fruit and perishable pro- 

 ducts were being enlarged and quickened, and the way opened 

 to cross-continental and European markets. Each advancement 

 meant money and better practice in the many various plant indus- 

 tries, but with each extension new problems beset the plant 

 pathologist. 



Smith's new laboratory of plant pathology was not only to share 

 in saving crops from partial or total destruction but also to assist 

 in the work of crop amelioration for quality and quantity yields. 



^° Scope of work, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dep't of Agric, 4 pp. 

 ■^^ Work in vegetable physiology and pathology, op. ch., 266. 



