248 ILLINOIS STATE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 



Oats: Blast (cause unknown) appeared throughout 

 the state, but was met with most frequently in the east- 

 central part. A loss of 5 per cent of the crop of the en- 

 tire state is estimated. 



Crown rust (Puccinia coronata Cda.) appeared in 

 rather more than its usual abundance. A mild winter, 

 through which a large quantity of severely infected vol- 

 unteer oats lived, provided an abundance of infective 

 material for the year's crop. A loss of 4 per cent is esti- 

 mated. 



Smut (Ustilago avenae (Pers.) Jens.) was common 

 everywhere and is estimated to have reduced the crop 

 by 5 per cent. 



Stem rust (Puccinia graminis, Pers.) was rare in the 

 southern part of the state, and only slightly more fre- 

 quent in the north. Nowhere was it severe. The wet 

 spring, with its consequent late seeding, was probably 

 instrumental in reducing the early infections, and the 

 dry hot periods that followed prevented further serious 

 development. 



Rye: Ergot (Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul.) was not 

 abundant. We have estimated that less than 0.2 per cent 

 of the plants of the state were infected. Damage to the 

 crop was so slight as to be incapable of estimation. 



Smut (Ustilago sp.). An undetermined species of 

 Ustilago was found in a rye field near Mitchell in Madi- 

 son County by Dr. R. D. Rands. 



Leaf rust (Puccinia dispersa Eriks.) was prevalent 

 and is estimated to have reduced the crop of the state 

 by 2 per cent. 



Stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers.) was common 

 everywhere, but the total infection was slight indeed, and 

 resulted in very little crop loss. 



Wheat: Bunt (Tilletia laevis Kuhn) was especially 

 important in some northern counties. One county esti- 

 mates a cash dockage at the mill or elevator of not less 

 than $2000. The reduction in yield for the entire state 

 is estimated at 2 per cent. 



Flag smut (Urocystis tritici Koern). A special survey 

 made during April, May and June increased the area of 

 known infection from 75 square miles in Madison and St. 



