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Fuethee Notes on Timothy Rust. 



By Frank D. Kern. 



At the last meeting of the Academy, November 27, 1908, the writer 

 presented a short paper on "The Rust of Timothy," 1 in which the history 

 of its occurrence in this country was discussed and its distribution at that 

 time was given. The remark was made, although not incorporated in the 

 paper, that this rust had not yet been reported from Indiana but that it 

 was becoming more general in its distribution and might be expected here 

 sooner or later. Since this prediction has come true within the year it is 

 considered worthy of mention at this time. A collection consisting only 

 of summer spores (urediniospores) was made in October, 1909, near Co- 

 lumbus, Indiana. 2 Last year the fungus was known in states both east 

 and west of Indiana, so that while this report does not extend the range 

 geographically, it is nevertheless of especial interest since it is the first 

 definite information we have of its advent into the State. A second col- 

 lection made in November at the same locality shows also a few winter 

 spores (teliospores). It is of further interest to note that where the rust 

 was found it was low ground with unusually rich soil. The place was 

 originally a wet swamp but is now tile-drained. None was found on the 

 high land adjoining. Low regions furnish more moisture in the atmos- 

 phere surrounding the plants, especially at nights, and this means better 

 conditions for the germination of the spores. 



In the paper read last year it was said that this rust was seemingly 

 increasing in its distribution. The season of 1909 has proved the correct- 

 ness of this prediction. A specimen was collected in September, 1909, in 

 Maine by Dr. J. C. Arthur. This is the first collection that the writer has 

 seen from the New England states. Last year Wisconsin was the most 

 western state which had reported the rust. This year it has been found 

 as far west as Minnesota, according to a report recently received from 

 an official of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



1 Only an abstract of this paper appeared in the Proceedings of the Academy 

 for 1908, p. 85, but it was published in full in Torreya, a Journal of the Torrey 

 Botanical Club, Vol. 9, pp. 3-5, Jan., 1909. 



2 This collection was made by Mr. C. G. Hunter, on his farm near Columbus, 

 and communicated by him to the writer. 



[27—23003] 



