AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 101 



have serious doubts about its being a protection. We doubt 

 whether any of the varieties are exempt from this disease, though 

 we admit that such a variety would be a great blessing to plum 

 growers. We received from Mrs. Myra Damon, Newport, Maine, 

 a specimen of Stinkhorn found in a cistern. These plants grow in 

 decaying organic matter and are often found about sink spouts, 

 drains and other places where decomposing organic matter occurs. 

 They may be known by their curious habit of growth. At first they 

 look like a puff-ball, finally the top bursts and from it comes a 

 large spongy stipe which bears at the apex a slimy mass of 

 brownish offensive spore bearing matter. The bottom part 

 (utricle) of the form sent is about as large as a filbert, the stipe 

 pink and three or four inches long. Finding it -about the cistern 

 would lead one to suspect that a sink spout or drain was too near, 

 and that the water might be contaminated by it. These fungi are 

 poisonous, but a single one in a cistern would not render the 

 water harmful. Too great care cannot be exercised in placing 

 drains and sink spouts where they cannot possibly contaminate 

 water supply, as decomposing organic matter in drinking water 

 is a very common source of diseases. 



Samples of sage sent by Mr. Willard Lothrop, of Leeds 

 Centre for examination as to adulterations, proved to be free from 

 foreign matter, but were composed largely of old stems and poorly 

 cured and blackened leaves. As to color and richness of flavor, 

 the material was quite inferior, and would give dark color and 

 poor flavor to sage cheese. 



Walter M. Haines M. D., of Ellsworth, sent us some specimens 

 of Fresh water cord Grass, and asked whether they were not Wild 

 Hice. Wild Rice was sown quite largely in the marshes and 

 ponds of Maine some years ago to attract water fowl, but so far 

 as we know it has not become established in the State. If any 

 one knows of its occurrence in the State, we would be glad to 

 learn the localities. Mr. Fernald gives it in his Portland 

 Catalogue as indigenous to the State, but we do not know the 

 locality. 



The Orange Hawkweed is spreading rapidly in the State and 

 threatens to be a serious pest in meadows and pastures. Farmers 

 should study the description given in this report, and be prepared 

 to recognize the pest as soon as it appears, and destroy the 

 straggling plants before they form large patches hard to manage. 

 Below we give an extended account of the most important plants 

 that have claimed attention during the past season. 



