141 



Garden. In recent >'ears sorghums lia\'e become an important 

 crop in this country, particuhirly in the southwest, because of 

 their ability to withstand drought conditions. There are three 

 important sorghum diseases: the head smut, Sorosporium reili- 

 anum, the covered kernel smut, Sphacelotheca sor^hi, and the 

 loose kernel smut, Sphacelotheca cruenta. Infection usually takes 

 place in the early seedling stage, but spores are not formed until 

 the plant is mature. External environal conditions during the 

 germination period have a pronounced influence upon the per- 

 centage of smutted plants. Environal conditions very favorable 

 for the infection of susceptible varieties failed to cause infection 

 of the resistant milo varieties, but caused certain pathological 

 symptoms of infection in the resistant variety, Feterita. 



When the reaction of the hybrids to the covered smut was 

 determined it was found that a clear-cut 3 : 1 ratio of resistant 

 to susceptible F2 plants was obtained in crosses between milo 

 and susceptible varieties. When Feterita was crossed with sus- 

 ceptible varieties there were indications of the interaction of two 

 factors, a 13:3 ratio of susceptible to resistant Fo plants being 

 obtained. Crosses between milo and Feterita showed that they 

 possessed difTerent factors for resistance. 



Reaction of these hybrids to the loose smut was quite differ- 

 ent, susceptibility being dominant in the milo hybrids, and 

 resistance dominant in the Feterita hybrids. 



D. Elizabeth Marcy 

 Recording Secretary 



Meeting of May 4, 1937 



The meeting was called to order at 8: 15 p.m. at the Ameri- 

 can Museum of Natural History, President Barnhart presiding. 

 There were fifty members and friends present. 



Dr. George C, Wood, 4430 Tibbett Ave., Riverdale-on- 

 Hudson, New York City was elected an annual member. 



The following were elected associates: Mr. Leon W. Bowen, 

 77 Evergreen Ave., Bloomfield, NJ.; Mr. John A. Crabtree, 

 Montgomery, N.Y.; Miss Clara Raska, 21-14 149 St., White- 

 stone, L.I., N.Y. 



Also those whose applications for membership were reported 

 at the meetings of March 17 and April 21 were elected. 



Professor A. W. Evans of Yale University, a member of the 



