135 
INDIANA PLANT DISEASES, 1919.1 
Max W. GARDNER. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The parasitic fungi of economic importance in Indiana have been previ- 
ously recorded by Pipal®’ and by Osner’*,’. While additions to this list will 
be included in subsequent reports the nature of the report will be essen- 
tially altered so that it will constitute a somewhat detailed account of the 
general crop pathology and the diseases of considerable economic import- 
ance during the season in question. Relative prevalence, geographical dis- 
tribution, local epidemics, new or unusual features observed, and losses in- 
curred, especially specific instances, will be among the data included. It is 
hoped that by such an annual procedure, a clearer understanding of Indiana 
plant disease conditions may be obtained. For this report no claim of 
completeness is made. Diseases of forest trees and ornamentals are not in- 
eluded. Diseases not reported in the previous lists are enumerated in the 
summary. 
WEATHER CONDITIONS. 
Because of the very intimate bearing of the weather upon crop path- 
ology, it is deemed not out of place to present a brief resumé of the weather 
conditions prevailing during the 1919 growing season as summarized by 
Mr. J. H. Armington in the monthly reports of the Weather Bureau at 
Indianapolis. 
Very warm weather early in April advanced vegetation very rapidly 
and caused fruit to blossom in the central and southern portions of the 
state. Consequently the freezing temperatures attained April 25th. to 27th. 
resulted in very serious injury to peaches, cherries, plums, apples, wheat, 
and rye. After this followed a month of cool, cloudy, wet weather resulting 
in a marked retardation of grains, a yellowing of wheat and rye in wet soil, 
a subsequent lodging of wheat, and a delayed planting of corn and truck 
crops. 
June and July were exceptionally hot and dry. The rainfall during June 
was in the form of local thunder storms and was deficient in the east and 
central portions of the state. In general, however, the weather during June 
was not unfavorable to crops. Except for a light rain, July 14th., there 
was practically no rain at all during that month until the 31st. This pro- 
longed drouth, coupled with the excessive heat, resulted in severe retarda- 
8Pipal, F. J. <A list of plant diseases of economic importance in Indiana with 
bibliography. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. 1915 :379-413. 1916. 
4Osner, Geo. A. Additions to the list of plant diseases of economic importance in 
Indiana. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. 1916 :327-332. 1917. 
5Osner, George A. Additions to the list of plant diseases of economic importance 
in Indiana. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. 1917 :145-147. 1918. 
1Contribution from the Botanical Department of Purdue University Agricultural 
Experiment Station, Lafayette. Indiana. 
“The writer wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Prof. H. S. Jackson. Mr. 
i. J. Pipal, Mr. G. N. Soffer, Dr. ©. T. Gregory. and ©. B. Mains in nrenaring 
this report. 
