98 
this fungus occur on timothy growing on the campus, but quite seri¬ 
ously in the field as well. It is known to occur on many grasses in 
Europe* * * § like Alopecurus , Briza. Boa , Antlioxanthum , Milium , Holcus , 
A muz, etc. In this country it is known to occur on Agropyrum repens , 
j Elymus Canadensis var. glaucifolius. t I think it does not generally 
occur here on blue grass, but I have found it on that host in Cam¬ 
bridge, Mass. Last summer it was also found on the same host at 
Ames, where it was growing among timothy, forming the same lead- 
colored patches it does on that grass. I did not, however, observe 
that the leaves were afterwards torn into shreds, as it was cut soon 
after the fungus appeared. Very likely it does so, as it seems to be 
common when fungi attack grasses, especially along the veins of the leaf. 
Brome Smut , (Ustilago bromivora, Fiscli. de Waldh. var. macrospora , 
Fallow.) Tall Meadow Oat Smut , (Cintractia avenece , Ellis and Tracy).— 
Early in June Mr. F. A. Sirrine called my attention to several smuts 
occurring on some of the cultivated grasses in the plats of the experi¬ 
ment station. The first ( Ustilago bromivora, Fisch. de Waldheim) is 
apparently the variety macrospora% of Farlow. It occurs abundantly 
on one of the best of our native species of Bromus (B. breviaristatus) 
and it has been reported on B. ciliatus , by Dr. Halsted. It affects the 
inflorescence so as to completely destroy it. This smut will probably 
not occasion much loss, as it attacks the inflorescence and the grass can 
be cut before it appears, but it must greatly injure its vitality. 
The second destructive smut was found on Arena elatior. This was 
more common than the Brome smut and seems to be the same as lias 
been found by Prof. Tracy in Mississippi on the same host, and 
called Cintractia arenece , Ellis and Tracy.§ It transforms the ovary 
into a compact mass, which is made up of small brownish spores. 
This year Ustilago panici-miliacei (Pers.) Wild., was very common on 
Panicum capillare and P. sanguinale , completely destroying a large num¬ 
ber of the plants. Last year it was noticed abundantly only on the lat 
ter host, none being found on Panicum capillare. It was observed on 
. the latter by Prof. Arthur || some years ago about Ames. This fungus 
does not seem to differ from U. syntherismw occurring on the sandbur 
(Cenchrus tribuloides ), and unless experiments have been made to decide 
whether Panicum smut can be transferred to the sandbur and vice 
* J. B. De Toni in Saccardo Sylloge Fungorum, Vol. n, p. 484. Winter Die Pilze, 
Vol. i, p. 108. The following hosts are given by Winter: Agrostis stolon if era, A. vul¬ 
garis, Calamagrostis Halleriana, Milium effusum, Holcus lauatus , Arena elatior, Briza 
media, Poa pratensis, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca ovina, F. elatior, Bromus inermis, 
Lolium perenne. 
t Trelease, Smut of Timothy. Dept, of Agrl. Report. Ellis North American Fungi, 
No. 1498. 
t Bull. Iowa Agrl. College, 1886, p. 59. Saccardo Sylloge fnngornm, Vol. vn, p. 
461. Winter 1. c., Vol. 1, p. 77. 
§ Journal of Mycology, Vol. vi, p. 77. 
|| Bull. Iowa Agrl. College, 1884, p. 172. 
