64 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



Heavy losses to the tobacco growers of the Connecticut valley 

 resulted from obscure troubles not yet determined, but evidently 

 of a physiological character in some way related to nutrition. 



The white pine blister rust, which for several years has been 

 known in a few restricted areas of the State, was last year dis- 

 covered in eight of the fourteen counties of the State. In the 

 western part of the State the outbreak of the disease has 

 assumed alarming proportions. In consequence of the increas- 

 ing seriousness of the situation the department has undertaken 

 the investigation of certain phases of the life history of the 

 causal fungus, with a view to working out some means of 

 control. 



Satisfactory progress has been made on all old projects. The 

 following new projects were submitted during the year: — 



5. Investigation of tobacco diseases in Massachusetts. 



6. Investigation of white pine blister rust. 



