1916.] , PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 31a 



sulfate of ammonia has been used continuously for a consider- 

 able number of years^ 



Bulletin 166, on fat analysis, is of a highly technical character, 

 but presents the results of long-continued and extremely careful 

 investigation, which has resulted in the development of a num- 

 ber of methods either entirely new or greatly improved as com- 

 pared with methods previously known. 



The report of the head of the department of chemistry pre- 

 sents a very complete outline of the various lines of investiga- 

 tion and general work conducted in this department of the 

 experiment station. 



Department of Botany. 



The work of this department has followed about the usual 

 lines but has been considerably strengthened in the direction of 

 greater attention to and closer study of a number of plant 

 diseases. Two diseases which seem to be rather serious which 

 are new in the State have been brought to attention during the 

 year, — mosaic disease of the sweet pea and ringspot of cauli- 

 flower. These are being investigated. 



Fungous diseases of most kinds were more general and more 

 serious during the summer of 1915 than usual, undoubtedly 

 because of the unusual moisture conditions of July and August. 

 Among such diseases, the late blight of the potato probably 

 caused greater damage than any other. The downy mildew of 

 the cucumber appeared earlier and was much more severe than 

 usual, affecting both hothouse and out-door crops, many of the 

 latter being practically complete failures on account of it. 



Some phases of the work of the department during the year 

 seem to indicate that powdery scab, which it was at one time 

 feared would become a serious disease of the potato in this 

 State, apparently finds climatic conditions unfavorable to devel- 

 opment, and it is thought this disease will give us little or no 

 trouble. 



White pine blister rust, one of the most serious diseases that 

 has ever affected that species, has been found in a number of 

 widely scattered centers, and is particularly abundant in the 

 western part of the State. Some phases of the life history of 

 the fungus causing this disease are being carefully studied. 



