Mat 21, 1920] 



SCIENCE 



517 



the process of mutual enlightenment ■which 

 Metron is intended to facilitate, since the 

 number of readers capable of profiting by 

 the exposition will be larger. The editors 

 hope therefore that questions will be dealt 

 with as their nature permits. But this is 

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 statistical researches lead to fragmentary re- 

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 a lacuna in other investigations. Such re- 

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In addition to a bibliography of publica- 

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 contain one or more analyses of statistical 

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 not exclusively statistical in character. Each 

 such analysis will deal with a particular 

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 There will also be an analysis of sources and 

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Metron is an international review. As it 

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Eaymond Pearl 



SPECIAL ARTICLES 



FOOT-ROT OF WHEAT 



Early last spring attention was called to 

 the occurrence of a foot-rot of wheat in Madi- 

 son Co., Illinois. Since that time I have made 

 a study of the disease assisted at first by Mrs. 

 E. Young True, employed by the Illinois Nat- 

 ural History Survey, and later by Mr. George 

 H. Dungan, of the Illinois Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station. 



From the first it appeared probable that a 

 certain fungus was the cause of the disease and 

 as early as last June our notes show that this 

 fungus was universally present and that inocu- 

 lations with pure cultures gave positive results. 

 The evidence is now so clear and conclusive 

 that I venture to present the following facts 

 as fully established. 



1. This fungus was isolated by transfer to 

 agar plates from diseased lesions in practically 

 every case where the attempt, was made, even 

 when superficial leafy coverings were stripped 

 away and the remaining surfaces disinfected 

 with mercuric chlorid. In all several hundred 

 such isolations were made. Eeiwrts from 

 pathologists in other states indicate similar 

 findings there. 



2. No other species of fungus or parasite of 

 any kind, was constantly present, or present in 

 any large percentage of cases. 



3. The diseased lesions were always pene- 

 trated and largely occupied by a fungous my- 

 celium that agrees in general character with 

 the fungus in question. 



4. The diseased wheat stems when placed in 

 conditions of suitable humidity become cov- 

 ered with spores of the fungus. 



