288 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



have been thought unworthy of serious attention. But the 

 enforcement of thorough-goinir legislation is not possil)le 

 without the active support of pul)lic sentiment; and a 

 public sentiment sufficiently aroused to execute the law 

 would accomplish the desired result without legislation. 



IV. Grain Rusts {Puccinia sp.). 



Last spring an attempt was made by this department to 

 enlist the practical farmers and gardeners of the State in aid 

 of a plan for the organization of a system for the report 

 of the prevalence of plant diseases in any locality. It has 

 been manifestly impossible for the writer to travel about the 

 State, and, at the same time, to carry on studies in Amherst, 

 and the value of organized co-operation has been long real- 

 ized. Therefore a special circular to those concerned was 

 widely distributed, and it was hoped, in view of the interest 

 in the work of the department which had been shown in 

 some quarters, the response might be encouraging. It 

 proved, however, disappointing in a marked degree. While 

 five or six of the most intelliijent cultivators in the State 

 responded promptly, they remained the only persons who 

 did so. This test must prove interesting to pathologists at 

 least, as showing what support they may expect at present 

 from people reputed to possess a high average degree of 

 intelli2:ence. It is clear that as^riculturists and horticultur- 

 ists in general are not yet willing to go out of their way 

 even to aid work carried on in their interest and for their 

 benefit. And it is the experience of the writer that only 

 the most wide-awake of them are willing to avail them- 

 selves of the results of such work, if it involves the least 

 deviation from the old ruts. But it is noticeable that those 

 who are alive to the results of modern investigations are 

 not those who coni})lain that " iarming doesn't pay." 



It had been hoped to obtain from correspondents i)retty 

 full information concerning the rusting of grains during 

 the season, as this constituted the special subject of inquiry 

 for the year of the International Phytopathological Commis- 

 sion. In the absence of infoi-mation from these sources, the 

 writer has l)een comi)elled to rely \\\n)\\ others, especially the 

 various official crop reports. It seems that, so tar as New 



