XXIV REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



the soil and plants with fungicides, failed, hence attention was turned 

 to the problem of obtaining" a form of cotton which, through its own 

 inherent vitality, would be able to resist the disease. The clew to this 

 had already been noted in the fact that individual stalks here and there 

 in a field of cotton would resist the attack, and this suggested the plan 

 of selecting seed from such resistant stalks, thus gradually securing a 

 form which would be immune. This has been accomplished, and it is 

 planned to extend the planting of the resistant sorts as rapidly as the 

 work can be pushed. 



In this connection, another interesting and valuable discovery has 

 been made in the matter of securing also a resistant cowpea. The 

 cowpea is used in rotation with cotton, and it was also attacked and 

 killed by the same fungus which destroyed the cotton roots. The 

 securing of a resistant cowpea will make it possible for the growers 

 of the fine sea-island cotton to bring back their land to its once high 

 value. 



DISEASES OP ORCHARD FRUITS. 



The peach in this countiy has generally been a very profitable crop, 

 but for many years it has been subject to a number of serious diseases. 

 Some of these can now be controlled, notably " yellows" and peach- 

 leaf curl, two of the worst enemies of peach growers. A few years 

 ago a new disease appeared in some of the finest peach orchards of 

 New York, Michigan, and other States, and this trouble has caused 

 growers a great deal of uneasiness. The Department has had one of 

 its most competent experts engaged on the disease, and he believes 

 that he has discovered the cause. The disease in question is known as 

 "little peach," from the fact that the fruit ripens when very small, 

 this symptom becoming more pronounced each }^ear until the tree 

 dies, which it invariably does at the end of two or three years. The 

 cause of " little peach " is believed to be a fungus which attacks the 

 very young roots, and already the matter of preventing it by securing 

 resistant stocks has been taken up. 



DISEASES OF FOREST AND CONSTRUCTION TIMBER. 



The losses due to the rotting of forest timber and timber used for 

 construction material, such as railroad ties, bridge sills, etc., have been 

 great, and an increasing demand has been made for information that 

 would lead to more light as to the best methods of preventing such losses. 

 During the year a thorough investigation of this subject was inaugurated, 

 the work being undertaken in cooperation with the Bureau of For- 

 estry. An expert was sent to Europe to secure information as to the 

 methods employed in controlling timber rots there, and extensive 

 experiments were inaugurated to determine the best methods of pre- 

 serving construction material and the prevention of diseases in stand- 

 ing timber. 



