1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 195 



VI. Department or Vegetable Physiology. 

 1. — Eeport by Prof. James Ellis Humphrey. 



The first year of my work in this department has been 

 largely one of organization and equipment. Beginning 

 without equipment and in limited quarters, no elaborate 

 work has been possible. The liberality of the last Legisla- 

 ture has removed this difficulty, however, and the new 

 building and green-house provided for the department are 

 just completed and occupied. Views of the new accom- 

 'modations are given with this report. 



Our equipment for certain lines of work, especially for the 

 study of fungous diseases of plants, is now fairly good, and 

 reference collections are well begun. 



My report for 1889 comprises the following divisions : — 



1. A general account of the Fungi, with special reference to 

 those which cause diseases of cultivated plants. 



2. A report on studies of the potato scab, carried on during the 

 year. 



3. Notes on various diseases of plants, which have been more 

 or less prevalent on the station farm the past season. 



4. Notes on specimens from other sources, referred to the 

 department for examination and report. 



1. General Account of the Fungi. 



The i)ast few years have been marked, in the United 

 States, by a rapidly increasing interest in the relations of 

 the fungi to the plants which they attack, and by a growing 

 appreciation of the dreaded rusts, smuts, mildews, blights and 

 other fungous diseases, and of their economic importance. 

 These troubles, once regarded as mj^sterious, unavoidable, 

 "Providential" visitations, are coming to be generally 

 understood to be simple, direct efiects of natural causes, 

 and', as such, open to study and amenable to treatment. 

 With this understanding comes, naturally, a comprehension 

 of the value and practical utility of the scientific investiga- 

 tion of fungous diseases in all their phases. 



The writer on fungi for popular information, meets at the 

 outset a difficulty not experienced l)y all scientific writers. 



