December 9, 1892.J 



SCIENCE. 



329 



cultural science, are some of the subjects which engage the earnest 

 efforts of the station botanist. 



Perhaps one of the most unique features of the botanist's work 

 at the experiment stations is the study and treatment of plnnt 

 diseases caused by fungi and bacteria. Nearly all the stations 

 where a botanist is employed give considerable attention to ex- 

 perimentation in various ways for preventing or remedying plant 

 maladies This is certainly called for, at least the experiment 

 stations should in some way carry on such experimentation, for 

 the prevention of plant diseases is the desired good for which any 

 appropriation for this study is given. There is als" a popular de- 

 mand for results which mean dollars and cents saved for the farm 

 and garden. In some cases, perhaps, tiiis necessitates a sacrifice 

 of the careful study into the cause of the disease. It is gratify- 

 ing, however, to note that at a number of the stations the im- 

 portance of original investigation into the cause of plant diseases 

 is recognized. Already important results have been reached. 

 Important in clearing the way for successful treatment, but also 

 important contributions are being annually made to the biology 

 of little- known and obscure fi^rms of plant life. In such a large 

 number of recently organized stations, much chaff will be pub- 

 lished, but time will winnow that from the kernel. 



In looking over the work of the station botanists, it is interest- 

 ing to observe the number who are engaged in making use of 

 artificial cultures in studying the lite histories of parasitic fungi. 

 The different habits and appearances of the leal enemy are brought 

 to light, its plans of attack are studied ; proof of its harmfulness 

 can be established by inoculation, and knowH causes thus supplant 

 supposed ones. No other feature of botanical work at the experi- 

 ment stations, in my judgment, is doing so much to lay the 

 permanent foundations for a rational economy in the treatment 

 of plant diseases. The best work uf this kind can only be suc- 

 cessfully carried out with the aid of expensive modern apparatus 

 appertaining to bacteriological laboratories. This provides the 

 trained workman with the tools for proceeding rationally and 

 accurately to the desired end. The stations which at present are 

 provided, more or less completely, with such cultural apparatus 

 are the folloning: 



Alabama, Connecticut (New Haven), Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, 

 Iowa, Kansas. Kentucky, Massachusetts (Amherst) New Jersey, 

 Cornell University Station. N.Y., New York Station (Geneva), 

 North Corolina, North Dakota. 



Several workers in other stations feel the need of cultural appa- 

 ratus in their work. It is to be hoped that another year will find 

 this want provided for. 



During the past year the force of botanical workers has been 

 increased by the organization of departments at the following 

 stations: Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Texas, 

 the officer at the latter place being horticulturist in charge of 

 botany. 



Several changes have been made in the working force. At the 

 Alabama station Atkinson retired Oct. 1, 189i. At the Kan- 

 sas station Hitchcock was appointed to succeed Kellerman. In 

 Massachusetts, Humphrey retires January 1, 1893, In Michigan 

 the station work has been reorganized and C. F. Wheeler appointed 

 botanist. Craig has been made botanist in Oiegou. In New 

 York, at the Cornell University Experiment Station, Dudley re- 

 tires to accept a position in Leland Stanford, Jr., University, and 

 Atkinson of Alabama has been appointed cryptogamic botanist. 



In looking over the report of the chairman of the Section of 

 Botany of the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and 

 Experiment Stations, which met at New Orleans Nov. 16, we note 

 the work of the botanists at the different stations as follows: — 



Alabama. Mell (botanist and meteorologist in charge of phaner- 

 ogamic botany) is engaged upon a study of the economic grasses 

 and weeds of the State, and in crossing varieties of cotton. 



Atkinson (biologist in charge of plant pathology) has con- 

 tinued his studies of cotton diseases, has discovered a new 

 "damping-off" fungus, obtained pure cultures of Pammel's 

 Ozonium of root-rot of cotton in Texas, is studying the biology of 

 the organisms which cause leguminous tubercles, and the tera- 

 tological growths caused by Taphrina, Ecestelea, and root fungi.' 

 ' For continuation see Cornell University Experiment Station, N.T. 



Arizona. Tuomey (botanist) is making observations on the 

 adaptability of the native grasses, trees, and shrubs for cultivation. 

 California. Green (botanist) is at work upon the vast native 

 flora of the State. 



Connecticut ( New Haven). Sturgis (mycologist) is studying the 

 diseases of tobacco, and making experiments in curing tobacco 

 and spraying fruits and garden crops. He is beginning a critical 

 study of the Cribrariacece. 



Delaware. Chester (mycologist) is engaged upon studies of 

 Moniha fructigena. diseases of watermelons, muskmelons, cucum- 

 bers, and the winter killing of blackberries. He has reached 

 promising results in the treatment of peach-rot. 



Florida. Rolfs (botanist and entomologist) has recently entered 

 upon his duties, studying plant diseases. 



Illinois. Burrill (botanist and horticulturist) is studying bac- 

 terial diseases of plants; raspberry rust, Manilia of plum, and 

 ec<momic smuts. 



Indiana. Arthur (botanist) is investigating the normal growth 

 of the potato, the relation of the number of eyes on a tuber or 

 part of a tuber to the number of stalks produced and to the yield. 

 s also studying the enzyme in seeds of wheat and oats, the rela- 

 tion of green seed to early maturity, wheat-smuts, and has devised 

 a method of preventing rust and bacterial disease of carnations. 



Iowa. Pammel (botanist) is studying life history of Peziza 

 sclerotiorum, hhizoctom'a betce. and Cercospora beticola. Has ex- 

 perimented on effect of fungicides upon roots and germination of 

 seeds, crossing of cucurbits, treatment of plant diseases, and is at 

 work on the chromogenic bacteria of the Ames flora and anatomy 

 of cucurbits. 



Kansas. Hitchcock (botanist) is experimenting with fungi- 

 cides on seeds, and studying the biology of weeds and economic 

 UredineoE. 



Kentucky. Garman (entomologist and botanist) is engaged 

 upon comparative study of forage plants. 



Maine. Harvey (botanist and entomologist) is making collec- 

 tions of economic plants. 



Massachusetts. Humphrey (vegetable physiologist) has been 

 studying black-knot of plum, a violet disease, a new disease of cu- 

 cumbers, and is publishing a monograph of N. A. Saprolegniucece. 

 Mississippi. Tracy (director and botanist) is making a botanical 

 survey of the State, and working on the GraminecB, southern 

 tomato bMght, and a new disease of the grape. 



Nebraska. Bessey (botanist) is making an exhaustive study of 

 the native trees and shrubs, and native and cultivated grasses. Is 

 at work on diseases of the sugar-beet. 



New Jersey. Halsted (botanist and horticulturist) is working^ 

 on diseases of cranbury, rose, violet, hazel, and fungi of weeds, 

 and experimenting for treatment of celery and sweet potato dis- 

 eases. 



Cornell University Station, N.Y. Atkinson (cryptogamic bota- 

 nist) is engaged upon a study of winter blight of tomatoes, a new 

 tomato disease, a Botrytis disease of beans, carnation diseases, a 

 new anthrarnose of Ligustrum, and " damping off" fungi.'' 



New York (Geneva). Beach (horticulturist) is studying the 

 effect of copper compounds in soil on vegetation, has obtained 

 good results from Bordeaux mixture and selection of seed for 

 anthracnose of beans, and from Bordeaux mixture for Se2}toria 

 on chrysanthemums. Has treated also apple and potato scab, 

 raspberry anthracnose, gooseberry mildew, strawberry-leaf blight, 

 and celery diseases. 



New Mexico. Wooton (botanist) is collecting plants for an 

 herbarium. 



North Carolina. McCarthy (botanist) is engaged in seed-test- 

 ing, treatment of grape and tomato diseases, and studying bacteria 

 of nitrification. 



North Dakota. BoUey (botanist) has found corrosive subhmate 

 effective in preventing potato scab; is studying the fungus of 

 deep scab of potatnes, making attempts at artificial cultures of the 

 UredineoE, and working on the distribution of root tubercles of 

 the Legiiviinosece. 



Ohio. Miss Detmers (botanist) is collecting the Vredinece of the 

 State. 



' See also Alabama. 



