408 NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



Professor JSTelson makes a favorable report for Wyoming : "I again 

 have the pleasure of reporting that the asparagus rust has not made 

 its appearance in this State so far as I have been informed." 



Professor Balmer, of Washington, sends the following : "I have seen 

 no asparagus rust in this State, nor have I heard of anv." 



For California, J. J. Keegan, Secretary of the State Board of Horti- 

 culture, writes: "I beg leave to acknowledge receipt of your reports 

 for 1899, 1900 and 1901, for which please accept my thanks. The 

 information they convey will be of the greatest value to this Board. 



"We are trying by all means in our power to prevent the introduction 

 of the asparagus rust into this State. This Board has passed a resolu- 

 tion prohibiting the introduction of all asparagus roots and seeds from 

 any place outside of California into this State. By this means we 

 hope to escape it. 



''The asparagus industry is rapidly becoming of the greatest import- 

 ance, fields of 1,000 acres and upwards having been planted on the 

 islands in the delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, and the 

 coming season many more will be added. Should the rust be intro- 

 duced it would all l>e ruined, as the islands are very low and moist, 

 protected by levees from overflow and most favorable to the propaga- 

 tion of fungus growths." 



Asparagus Rust on the College Farm. 



On October 23d a final inspection was made of the several varieties 

 in the four plots. The field generally showed much rust and the brush 

 was not vigorous. The larger size and deeper green of the "Palmetto" 

 variety was evident from all parts of the field. The "xlrgenteuil" was 

 little infested. L^pon a basis of percentages, as assigned to the amount 

 of rust in former years, the "Palmetto" and "Argenteuil" show 25 

 per cent., while the "Mammoth," "Elmira," "Columbian," "Colos- 

 sal," "Brunswick" and "Cross-bred" have 75 per cent, of rusting. 



Last year the percentages were 20 and 50. It was noted that the 

 least rust was upon the plot where barnyard manure had been applied. 



BROOM-RAPE UPON COLEUS. 



The greenhouse during last winter was employed in part in testing 

 the habits of certain seed-bearing parasites, as the dodders and broom- 

 rape. It is interesting to note that a coleus plant standing near these 



