LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



U. 8. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Plant Industry, 



Office of the Chief, 

 Washington, D. C. March 8, 1910. 

 Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith and to recommend for 

 publication as Bulletin Xo. 171 of the Bureau series the accompany- 

 ing manuscript entitled " Some Fungous Diseases of Economic Im- 

 portance," consisting of two papers. " Miscellaneous Diseases " and 

 "Pineapple Rot Caused by Thielaviopis Paradoxal' submitted with 

 a view to publication by Mrs. Flora W. Patterson, Mycologist in 

 Charge of Pathological Collections and Inspection Work. 



The paper entitled " Miscellaneous Diseases " was prepared by 

 Mrs. Flora W. Patterson, Mycologist, and Miss Vera K. Charles, 

 Scientific Assistant. The observations reported in this manuscript 

 relate to several fungous diseases of plants of economic and orna- 

 mental value. 



The paper entitled " Pineapple Rot Caused by Thielaviopsis Para- 

 doxa " was prepared under the supervision of Mrs. Flora W. Patter- 

 son. Mycologist. The fumigation experiments were originated and 

 carried on by Miss Vera K. Charles and Mr. Frank J. Veihmeyer, 

 Scientific Assistants. The purpose of the experiments was to control 

 by fumigation with formaldehyde gas the growth of the fungus, 

 the cause of a serious pineapple disease, so reducing the profits of 

 shippers as to be in a sense prohibitive to the transportation of fruit 

 from some localities. These experiments were undertaken at the 

 request of the Director of the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion, and material assistance has been rendered by the Office of Ex- 

 periment Stations of the United States Department of Agriculture. 

 Respectfully. 



G. H. Powell, 

 Acting Chief of Bureau. 



Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture, 



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