EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT. 427 



it to spread. * * * My theory has been that drouth causes the 

 plants to become weakened, and hence followed by an outbreak of 

 the rust. ' ' 



From Delaware, Professor Chester sends the following : '' During 

 the past two years it has not been as general and destructive as in the 

 two preceding years, but all in all it is general throughout the State." 



Professor Norton reports from Maryland that in some places the 

 rust is abundant. 



Professor Buckhout writes from Pennsylvania that "the asparagus 

 rust is scarce this year — much less than before." From the South 

 Atlantic States the replies are to the effect that the rust is not in evi- 

 dence, but from Texas, Professor Price writes, " I have found the rust 

 in Texas for the first time this year. * * * The first part of the 

 season here was normal and the latter very dry, and the disease is 

 still spreading. Judging from its first appearance here this year it 

 seems quite likely that it will prove serious in the State." 



For the Middle States the reports are favorable. Professor Selby, 

 for Ohio, writes that "there appears to be no spreading of the rust." 

 From Michigan, Professor Wheeler sends word that " the rust, so far 

 as I can learn, is not on the increase." Professor Goff writes from 

 Wisconsin that "a single case of asparagus rust has been reported 

 to me this season. * * * This is the first =;= =j< ^ to my 

 knowledge of the disease in our State." From Indiana, Professor 

 Arthur reports the rust as abundant as last season, and "that the 

 infection of this region in general came this year largely or wholly 

 from spores blown from considerable distances." 



Professor Burrell reports for Illinois that "the disease has been 

 spreading, and is now known in at least a dozen plantations through- 

 out the State. >k * ^ This last year seems to have been a bad one 

 for the development of the parasite. Some beds that were known to 

 be infected have apparently not shown it at all or to a very slight 

 extent. I am inclined to think that the very dry weather through- 

 out July and August had something to do with this state of things." 



From Iowa, Professor Pammel writes that " I think the rust is orv 

 the increase ; at least in this vicinity, but I have not been in corre- 

 spondence =!= * * with reference to its general distribution in the 

 State." 



In Nebraska, Mr. John Sheldon has made a special study of the 

 rust, and through Professor Bessey, of the Experiment Station, he 

 reports as follows : " From observations made near Lincoln and the 

 reports that have come in, there seems to be much less asparagus rust 



