20 
Many attempts were made to raise the fungus in jars not 
provided with the tube and plug. Sometimes they were suc- 
cessful, but on the whole it was found very difficult to prevent 
contamination by other fungi and bacteria. Many jarsof pota- 
toes were used. ‘They were prepared by placing small pieces 
of potato ina jar with a little water and then steamed as with 
meal. The fungus grew less vigorously on this, and when 
grown was in a much less convenient form, as the potato never 
became firm unless too dry for the fungus to live. 
LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS AND EXPERIENCES. 
Experiments to test the virulence of the fungus in the labor- 
tory were made, although these have been carried out and va- 
ried many times in various places. On June 5 anumber of bugs 
were placed in three glass moist-chambers, which contained a 
layer of soil on the bottom and a supply of fresh wheat leaves. 
The bugs in one cage were dusted with the form originally 
brought from Ithaca (Jsaria vexans), one with material obtained 
from Prof. Forbes, and the third glass chamber was left as a 
check and was not intentionlly infected. After four days many 
bugs were dead in both the infected cages. All showed the 
presence of the fungus by the characteristic white felted 
growth of mycelium bearing the spores. After two days more 
the fungus appeared on the bugs in the check cage as well, 
and the experiment was discontinued as most of the bugs in the 
infected cage were killed and showed the fungus. The bugs 
in the check cage must have been affected by the spores in the 
room, which were not present in a large quantity, thus requir- 
ing more time to become apparent. 
The fact that the disease is often present ready to break out 
when the conditions are favorable is proven by the following 
experiment. On May 28a moist chamber was partially filled 
with moist soil and on this was sprinkled a liberal supply of 
green wheat. Some chinch-bugs were inserted and the chamber 
closed. After one week most of the bugs were dead and cov- 
ered with the fungus. 
Several attempts to spray the fungus on the bugs, by mixing 
the spores with water, were made. On June 10 a large two- 
quart culture was mixed with two and a half gallons of water 
and well shaken. The mixture was then put in a knap-sack 
