Nov. is, 1920 Crownwart of Alfalfa Caused by Urophlyctis alfalfae 297 



be distinguished in the field, and his illustrations of diseased plants with 

 crowns encrusted with large galls contributed effective support to his state- 

 ments. However, von Lagerheim states that he did not see the disease 

 in the field himself, though he sought for it in fields near Quito. He 

 received his specimens from the owner of an estate in the Andes, and his 

 description of the effects of the disease in the field was gathered from 

 several observers. 



In Europe, Magnus (20) reports a destructive outbreak of the disease 

 in Alsace, basing his report on the observations of two farmers. Later, 

 from an adjoining Province of Germany, Grimm and Korff (10) report the 

 disease as present in an alfalfa field without causing much apparent harm. 

 In fact, the diseased plants seemed somewhat more vigorous than the 

 others. Nevertheless, they think measures should be taken to elimi- 

 nate it. 



Peglion (25) finds the disease in Italy, and raises the question whether 

 or not it may be a factor in producing alfalfa sickness in some fields. He 

 suggests that experimental work should be undertaken to determine the 

 matter. In France Arnaud (1) reports the disease as apparently doing 

 considerable damage in a single field in the Department of Seine-et-Oise. 

 In 19 1 6 Salmon (27) found a single field infested with wart in England 

 and urged further search for the disease. No reports of serious infesta- 

 tions have followed, though the writers have been told that occasional 

 specimens are found. The disease has been found in Holland (8) and 

 Sweden, but no apparent damage has been reported. 



A critical reading of these reports of the destructive action of the dis- 

 ease calls attention to the fact that the two most important reports, 

 those of von Lagerheim and of Magnus, are not based on first-hand obser- 

 vation. In all cases damage is noted only in small areas. Therefore 

 we must still hold it an open question whether this disease has been 

 primarily responsible for any serious or widespread injury to alfalfa in 

 either South America or Europe. 



In the United States the disease has been found abundant only west 

 of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains, though it occurs in a few 

 regions east of these mountains. It has not been found east of the 

 Rockies. However, in view of the fact that the disease when not abun- 

 dant is often completely concealed unless a plant is uprooted, it is pos- 

 sible that its distribution is more widespread than records show. 



The first report of the disease by Smith (31) gives no clue to its im- 

 portance. O'Gara (22) finds the disease very common and occasionally 

 destructive in fields in the Rogue River Valley in Oregon. Jackson (12) 

 later reports the disease from the same region, making no comment 

 regarding its importance. Again O'Gara (23) is first to report the disease 

 present in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, though he has not in this case 

 determined to what extent it causes injury. McCallum (16) reported 

 the disease present in Arizona. McKee (17), who has had an opportunity 



