52 EXPElilMENT STATION. [Jan. 



REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



G. E. STONE, 



The work of this department during the past year has con- 

 sisted in the usual routine work, correspondence, seed testing 

 and research work dependent upon some phase of pathology and 

 physiology. The laboratory work has been carried on by Mr. 

 George H. Chapman, with occasional aid from students and 

 recent graduates, and Miss J. V. Crocker, besides attending to 

 other duties, has had practically entire charge of the seed testing. 



During the past year a conservatory, 28 by 70 feet, divided 

 into compartments, with a lean-to and a propagating pit, has 

 been added to Clark Hall. A part of this will be used for 

 various experiments with market-garden and florist's crops 

 during the coming year. 



The past summer and fall have been unusually dry and have 

 proved to be very severe for vegetation. Many public reservoirs 

 have been unusually low, and wells which have never been 

 known to fail in their supply of water have been completely dry 

 this fall ; in fact, the drought has been the worst known for 

 many years. The season preceding this was also exceptionally 

 dry, although followed by much rain in the fall ; and the winter 

 following was responsible for some winter-killing of peach 

 tree roots. 



This year's drought affected potatoes severely, causing much 

 sun scald of the foliage, and was responsible for a small yield. 

 The results of good feeding, tillage and spraying, however, 

 were noticeable on the yield. There was very little blight of 

 potatoes due to fungi, although here and there might be found 

 evidence of the early blight and Cladosporium, which is seldom 

 troublesome to potatoes. The potato mildew (late blight) and 

 rot were not common. 



