Investigations 
Plant Pathology.—The White fund for research in plant pathol- 
ogy first became available on January 1, 1921 (see P. 44, infra), 
and the appointment of Dr. George M. Reed as curator of plant 
pathology, beginning January first, will be noted elsewhere in this 
report. . Dr. Reed’s investigations, now under way, have to do with 
the general question of disease resistance, and have been planned 
to include such problems as the following: 
1. The determination of the presence or absence of resistance in 
particular hosts to certain parasites. 
he influence of external conditions upon resistance and sus- 
ceptibility of hosts to particular parasites. 
3. The possible physiological specialization of parasites. 
4. The essential nature of disease resistance. 
5. The inheritance of the disease-resistant quality. 
In the investigations it is planned to use whatever suitable mate- 
rial is available for such studies. During the past year the experi- 
ments carried out have had to do with certain cereal smuts. In- 
vestigations have been conducted with these forms for a number 
of years, and some phases of the work have been continued. 
A large number of varieties of sorghums have been tested to 
determine their behavior toward the kernel smut, in continuation 
of previous work. Certain varieties, as the milos and feterita, 
have shown marked resistance to this disease. The kafirs, sorgos, 
and durras tested have proved to be quite susceptible. Among the 
kaoliangs, Dwarf Brown Kaoliang has again shown freedom from 
the smut. 
-A large number of varieties of oats has been included in the 
field tests with both the loose and covered smut of oats. In gen- 
eral, varieties that have formerly proved to be resistant have con- 
tinued to manifest their resistance during the past season and 
susceptible varieties have again shown marked susceptibility. The 
varieties in general respond similarly toward the loose and covered 
smuts. In the greenhouse, where the conditions are particularly 
favorable for smut infections, certain resistant varieties have been 
subjected to severe tests. Most of these have remained free from 
the smut, indicating a high degree of resistance even when condi- 
tions for infection are as favorable as possible. 
