134 Kansas Academy of Science. 



plants in the field. These droplets were found exuding from all parts of 

 the stems. No apparent injury occurred. 



Leaf Rust of Rye. Puccinia dispersa Erikss. This leaf rust is very 

 common in the state and was present in normal quantities the past 

 season. 



Kernel Smut of Sorghum. Sphacelotheca sorghi Lk. This smut is 

 always present in Kansas in greater or less quantities. In many fields 

 five per cent of the heads are affected and it is not unusual to find fields 

 showing fifty per cent smutted. 



Head Smut of Sorghum. Sphacelotheca reiliana Lk. The head smut 

 of sorghum has been reported from several places in the state the past 

 season. Although it has never been present in alarming quantities, the 

 past season showed that under proper conditions it appears to live over in 

 this region. Considerable head smut of sorghum was reported from 

 Stockton. It has also been reported from Finney county. 



Bacterial Sorghum Spot. Bacillus sorghi. Considerable leaf-spot of 

 the sorghums is present every season. This has been said to be due to a 

 bacterial trouble, but how much is due to other causes and factors is 

 still an open question. 



Corn Smut. Ustilago zese (Beck.) Ung. Corn smut was the most 

 prevalent that it has been for years. It was not uncommon to find fields 

 that showed as high as fifty and seventy-five per cent of smut. The yield 

 was considerably reduced by the presence of so large an amount. Less 

 smut occurred in the southern and eastern part, of the corn belt, while 

 more smut occurred in the east central part and northern region. In 

 the vicinity of Manhattan anywhere from twenty-five to sixty per cent 

 was found. 



New Corn Disease. Physoderma {zeae-'maydis?) . This fungus was 

 first found by the writer in 1915, when it occurred in considerable quan- 

 tities at Manhattan. It causes reddish-brown or chocolate ruptures in 

 the later stages of development, but when first noticed it produces black- 

 ened, small spots or blotches, not unlike the injury caused by aphids. The 

 main ribs of the leaves, sheaths and nodes may be attacked. A shredded 

 condition at the base of the leaves is a common symptom of this fungus. 

 Physodertna zese-maydis was located in the following places the past 

 season : At Manhattan it was the most prevalent of any place visited 

 in the state. It also occurred in lesser quantities in fields around Chetopa 

 and lola. A trace was found at Garnett, Ottawa and Marysville. 



Rust of Maize. Puccinia sorghi Schw. This is generally present 

 every year. The past season it seemed to be more prevalent than usual. 



Stem Rust of Timothy. Puccinia phlei-pratensis Erikss. & Henn. A 

 few reports were received of slight infections of timothy rust, but the 

 amounts were very slight. In 1916, however, severe infection occurred 

 in fields of timothy. 



Root Rot of Alfalfa. Rhizoctouia violacese. This root disease of al- 

 falfa is quite serious in many alfalfa fields over the state, particularly if 

 fields have been in alfalfa too long. Plants die out in spots, the disease 

 spreading from year to year by carrying over on decaying roots. Plants 

 affected turn yellow, wilt and gradually die. If the roots are examined, 



