PAPERS OX BIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE 249 



Clair counties to an area of about 500 square miles in- 

 cluding parts of two additional counties, Jersey on the 

 north, and Monroe on the south. A few fields located 

 within the original infested area showed spots where the 

 infection ran as high as 30 per cent. 



Foot rot, rosette, etc. (Helminthosporium spp.) was of 

 local occurrence and of local importance only. 



Leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Eriks.) appeared south- 

 ward in epidemic form. Probably every field of winter 

 wheat in the state was infected. The most serious losses 

 occurred in the spring wheat region in southwestern Illi- 

 nois where twelve counties report an average crop re- 

 duction of 1.51 bushels per acre or a total loss of 1,233,400 

 bushels from an approximate acreage of 822,000. A Total 

 reduction of 10 per cent of the winter wheat crop of the 

 state appears to be a conservative estimate. 



Loose smut (Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Bostr.) appeared 

 in its usual abundance throughout the state, but the losses 

 sustained appear to have been much more severe north- 

 ward. It is estimated that this disease is responsible for 

 a 4 per cent reduction in the yield of the state. 



Stem rust (Puccinia graminis Pers.) was prevalent 

 throughout the state, but the infection was slight and the 

 loss not estimable. It is noteworthy that no instance has 

 yet been found where the presence of the common bar- 

 berry has been responsible for epidemics of any consider- 

 able extent or importance. 



FOEAGE CEOPS 



Alfalfa: Leaf spot (Pseudopeziza medicaginis (Lib.) 

 Sacc.) was of common occurrence but was not responsible 

 for important losses except locally. 



Rust (Uromyces striatus Schr.) was found in one field 

 in Edgar county. This is the first known occurrence of 

 this disease in Illinois. 



Wilt (Fusarium sp.) made its appearance in Randolph 

 county during April. This disease seems not to have been 

 described in pathological literature. Young plants only 

 appear to be attacked, the disease showing first as a wilt 

 on the lower leaves. The crown of the plant and the 

 stems arising from it are cankered and blackened, and 



