1893.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 211 



9. Department of Vegetable Physiology. 



Report by Dk. James Ellis Humphrey. 



As in previous years, the work of the department has 

 steadily continued since the last report. The results of the 

 year's investigations to lie described in the following pages 

 contain several matters of scientific interest and of practical 

 importance to various classes of cultivators. The work on 

 diseases of some leading winter crops has been continued, 

 and a consideralile part of the present report is occupied by 

 a discussion of the known fungous diseases of the cucumber 

 plant, both under glass and in the open air. Studies of 

 a disease of English violets are descril^d ; as also some 

 cultures of the "black-knot" fungus of the plum, with 

 suggestions for its practical control. Directions for avoiding 

 the attacks of the fungi known as powdery mildews will 

 also be found, and briefer notes on other disease-producing 

 fungi of importance. 



The department has replied, during the year, to numerous 

 inquiries from various sources touching a wide range of sub- 

 jects, and has been able to be of considerable service to the 

 farmers and gardeners of the State in this way. 



In closing his connection with the station with the comple- 

 tion of this report, the writer desires to express the hope 

 that the value of mycological investigations has been suffi- 

 cientl}' demonstrated to ensure their continuation at Amherst. 



The subject-matter of the present report is arranged under 

 the following heads : — 



I. Diseases of the cucumber plant. 



1. Sclerotium disease (" timber rot ") . 



2. Powdery mildew. 



3. Downy mildew. 



4. Damping off. 



5. Leaf blight. 



6. Leaf glaze. 



7. Other diseases. 



