New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 
363 
Weeds seem well able to take care of themselves, but some of them, 
at least, do not appear to be well fitted for the ways of cultivated 
plants. If, indeed, it proves to be true upon further inquiry that 
some weed seeds are made incapable of germination by being kept dry 
for three or four months or so, it will be a comforting fact to know, as 
the danger of fouling land with those particular kind of weeds, by 
seeds conveyed in grain and garden seeds, will be shown to be much 
less than supposed. 
Summary. 
The following summary will present the subjects which have been 
treated in the four annual reports, including the present one, made by 
the writer, to the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, in a 
more orderly connection. It also includes references to all other 
matter upon the same subjects, to be found in the several reports 
of the Station from the first (1882) up to and including the present 
one, properly accredited to the respective writers. 
The first botanist's report (1884) begins with a short account of the 
role of parasitic and saprophytic fungi in plant diseases, general 
structure of fungi, and the use of fungicides. 
Pear. — The most prominent subject of inquiry has been that of 
pear blight, or what is least used but the better name, fire blight. 
The report for 1884 goes over the ground of Professor Burrill's 
investigations, confirming his observations respecting the presence 
and activity of bacteria in connection with the disease, its infectious 
character as shown by inoculation, and the identity of pear blight 
and twig blight of the apple and quince. It was found that the 
disease could also be extended to various pomaceous fruits not 
tested by Professor Burrill, but could not be induced in plants of 
other orders. Inoculation in the green fruit, taking up an original line 
of research, was found more certain of results than in the branches, 
and this with other things led to the belief that succulency has to do 
with the fullest development of the disease. Reasons are given for 
thinking that the bacteria accompanying the disease are the cause of 
it. The probable manner of the propagation of the disease from tree 
to tree is outlined, and suggestions made as to remedies and preven- 
tions. In 1885 a rigid proof is given that the bacteria (Micrococcus 
amylovorus Bur.), which are always found accompanying the disease? 
are the actual cause of it. The discovery was made that the entrance 
of the bacteria into the tissues of the trees is effected through the 
center of the flowers and through the delicate growing tips of 
branches. An attempt was made to learn why some varieties suffer 
more from the disease than others, but with indifferent success. The 
mode by which the disease is normally propagated and spread is more 
