l!)l().l PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. .'U. 69 



REPORT OF IHE BOTANISTS. 



G. E. stone; g. h. chapman, assistant. 



The routine work of the botanist for the past year has been 

 similar to that of other years. Correspondence relating to 

 \ari»ius diseases and si)eeial problems has occupied much time, 

 and investigations of various problems have been taken up. 



In carrying out the details connected with the routine work 

 and investigations we have had the assistance of Mr. G. H. 

 Chapman, and in the keeping of records, seed testing and cor- 

 respondence, ]\Iiss J. V. Crocker has been of much assistance. 

 Mr. R. D. Whitmarsh, who is pursuing graduate studies at 

 the college, has aided materially in the diagnosis of diseases 

 and in other ways about the laboratory. 



Diseases More or Less Common to Crops during the Year. 



The season of 1909 was exceptionally dry, like that of 1908, 

 and vegetation suffered materially. Some rain fell in the 

 early spring months, but the average precipitation was below 

 the normal. The summer was remarkably free from thunder- 

 storms. The growing season o])ened later than usual and 

 vegetation was a week or two behind throughout the whole 

 ^ season, some crops not maturing as well as in other seasons. 



Little or no winter injury was observed to vegetation, but 

 late frosts in the spring affected asparagus in some locali- 

 ties. The injury was in some respects similar to a trouble 

 which has been previously reported on as being associated with 

 a fungus {Fusarium). 



Some cases were noted of defoliation of apple trees by 

 frost blisters, caused by the effects of late spring frosts. 



Besides the usual number of fungous diseases commonly met 

 with, the following may 1)P mentioned as being more or less 

 abundant. an<l woi-tliv of note for other reasons. 



