UTAH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 111 
these smut spores also germinate and infect the seedling. 
This appears to be the general rule; for the treatment of 
this smut is similar to that of other smuts where the smut 
spores adhere to the surface of the fruit. However, with 
oats, we find that the external treatment is not always as 
effective as it should theoretically be and in all probability 
some infection of the ovule the previous year does take 
place. 
BLOSSOM INFECTION ON THE MELANDRYUM. The smut 
forms already described appear in the blossoms of grasses, 
that is, in plants characterized by wind fertilization. There 
are, however, a number of smut fungi which occur in plants 
fertilized by insects. A special characheristic form of 
this kind of plant is the Melandryum of the family Caryo- 
phyllaceae, which is affected with what is commonly termed 
anther smut. The infected plants appear healthy except 
as to the anther, which alone is attacked by the smut fun- 
gus. Experiments have completely demonstrated that blos- 
som infection also takes place in this instance, the smut 
being transported by such insects as butterflies to the 
stigma where it germinates and grows down into the seed, 
there to lie dormant until the following season, when the 
seed is planted. 
SMUT INFECTION IN WATER PLANTS. As a con- 
comitant supplement to the above described infection by 
wind and insects, water must further be added as an agent 
by which smut spores are transported. The forms of Doas- 
sansia inhabit mostly.the leaves of water plants, for ex- 
ample, Alisma, Sagittaria, and so on, and develop in these 
localized diseased spots, which can easily be detected by 
a yellowish appearance. Finally, in these spots are de- 
veloped the spore masses of the fungi. These spore masses 
consist of an outer sterile layer of cells surrounding an 
inner mass of fertile ones. The cells of the outer layer 
soon lose their contents and become filled with air. The 
spore mass then floats very readily. The fertile cells of 
this spore mass germinate in the water like Tilletia. The 
sporidia, however, continue to bud and form many filiform 
conidia. These finally are carried by the water and come 
