50 



NVitli the absence of easily disseminated spores and also lack of air conidia, blossom 

 infection is licre from the very beginning impro1)a])le. This could be promoted only by the special 

 circumstance, that in partial infection of a flower spike, healthy blossoms may occur between the 

 smutted ones and therefore be directly adjacent to these. The possibility thus given for blossom 

 infection could be easily tested by harvesting the ripe seed from partially smutted spikes and 

 using it for sowing the following spring. The results of these experiments gave no smutted 

 ])lants. Accordingly, the probability of infection in the blossoms in any case is very slight, if 

 it exists at all. 



In the experimental plants last treated, that is. Indian millet, F'anicum and Italian millet, 

 we have varieties and host plants for smut fungi in which tlir infection of the ycnninating sccd- 

 linys may be considered as the prevailinq type of infection in smutted plants, if not the only 

 one, while the infection of the blossoms, if it takes place here at all, seems to be limited to a 

 small amount. 



Spraying with the germs of infection by means of an atomizer was especially suitable 

 for carrying otit the infection of the young germinating seedlings, if the precaution was taken 

 of purifying the spores with a centrifugal sieve and of preparing them for direct germination 

 b}- one day's retention in dilute nutrient solution. 



Further plants for experiment have not been taken up as yet in our investigations and 

 experimental infection. The exceedingly important smut forms of the stinking smut of wheat 

 and the covered smut of barley have not been overlooked, but at first only several experiments 

 could be arranged, because it was impossible to undertake and observe too many experiments at 

 one time and because it was better to await the results of those already undertaken in order 

 to use them explanatorily when making others. 



Blossom infection with stinking smut of wheat and the covered smut of barley were begun 

 last summer, hoAvever, and will furnish results only in succeeding vegetation periods. 



