INTRODUCTION, 
Durine the year 1895 both field and laboratory experiments 
have been conducted on a large scale for the purpose of solving 
doubtful points concerning the contagious diseases of the 
echinch-bug. Many thousands of farmers have been supplied 
with the Sporotrichum, or white-fungus infection. Their re- 
ports in reference to the success of the field operations have 
been of conflicting character as in former years, but the major- 
ity maintain that great benefit has been derived from the use 
of the infection. — 
It has been thought desirable to devote this report chiefly to 
a detailed description of the laboratory and field investigations 
conducted under the supervision of the Director by his able 
staff of associates and assistants. Especial acknowledgments 
are due to Associate Professor W. C. Stevens and Assistant M. 
A. Barber, of the Department of Botany of the University of 
Kansas, and to Mr. F. E. Marcy, for their unremitting vigi- 
lance in laboratory and field and for their invaluable services 
in the preparation of this report. 
Attention is here called to the fact that the Sporotrichum or 
white fungus evidently survived the winter of 1894—’95 in the 
field over an extended area of the state, and artificial infection 
was therefore not so essential as in years when it did not sur- 
vive the winter. Whether this widely-extended natural presence 
of Sporotrichum was the result of the general introduction of 
the infection throughout the state in 1894 from the laboratory 
of this Station, it would not be possible with certainty either to 
affirm or to deny. 
Attention is also called to the fact that the weather conditions 
of the past two years have been highly favorable to the undue 
multiplication of chinch-bugs and to their successful hiberna- 
tion inimmense numbers. The rainfall for the first five months 
of 1895 at the University was smaller than in any season during 
