280 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXXI, No. 3 
per cent of these seedlings had smut in the cotyledon, and most of 
them died in this stage, but a few continued to develop and had smut 
sori in the true leaves up to the fourth or fifth leaf, but no sori were 
found on any plant that was more mature. This species almost 
falls in class 2. 
Allium neapolitanum Cyr. Not more than 1 per cent of the hun¬ 
dreds of seedlings which grew from one planting showed smut. 
Lesions were found, however, in the first true leaf. Hence this 
species is placed in class 1, although it appears to be very resistant. 
CLASS 2 
Allium porrum L. (leek). In England this species is said to be 
attacked more severely than A. cepa (3, p. 170). Zillig also was 
able to infect it, but neither he nor Cotton described the effect 
of the disease on the plants. Malbranche (7) stated in 1881 that 
20 per cent of the porrettes (young leeks) in certain gardens in Rouen 
were attacked, and that the disease had established itself in the 
blades and especially the bases of the leaves. The writer made 
two plantings and had no difficulty in raising hundreds of plants 
to maturity. The first planting showed 15 per cent of infection in 
the cotyledons, and the second 10 per cent, but only a very few of 
the plants died. The writer has searched in vain for sori in the true 
leaves of the plants. The damage caused by the parasite here is 
negligible. These observations are surely at variance with those of 
Malbranche and other European investigators. Apparently the 
disease is more serious on leeks in Europe than in America. 
Allium angulosum L. From the one planting made several 
hundred seedlings were obtained. Ninety-five per cent of the cotyle¬ 
dons had smut, and more than half of the plants died in this stage. 
Those which survived, however, showed no trace of smut in the 
leaves. This seems to be an extremely susceptible species, but the 
mortality is all in the early cotyledon stage. 
Allium nigrum L. Considerable interest is attached to this species 
because of its relation to A. magicum, on which Passerini collected a 
smut which he named TJrocystis magica . (In the past there has been 
considerable discussion as to whether TJ. magica is identical with 
TJ. cepulae. If it is, the onion smut fungus may well be of European 
origin. A. magicum is either a variety or a synonym of A. nigrum , 
according to the authority one wishes to follow.) One sowing was 
made, but the germination was poor; only about 30 seedlings grew. 
One-third of these had smut in the cotyledon, but none was observed 
in the later leaves, although all the plants were grown to full maturity 
and produced blossoms and seeds. The original specimens of U. 
magicaj collected by Passerini and examined by the writer in the 
Harvard herbarium, were on very large leaves. The fact that the 
large leaves of A. nigrum have not been observed to become infected 
would indicate that the fungus Passerini collected and named was not 
identical with TJ. cepulae. More thorough infection tests should be 
made, however, the writer believes. 
Allium pulchellum G. Don. Three plants came up and died of 
smut in the cotyledon stage. 
Allium siklcimense Baker. Only two plants came up. One showed 
smut lesions and soon died. 
