366 
Keport of the Botanist of the 
there is much more loss from it than commonly supposed. Further 
statistics of the same nature are given by Mr. C. S. Plumb in the 
report for 1886, together with the results of treating the seed in 
various ways for the prevention of smutting, with valuable practical 
conclusions. 
Weeds. — The number of weeds and the kinds growing upon one- 
twentieth of an acre of undisturbed soil in a cultivated field were 
carefully counted in 1885, 1886 and 1887. The number of seeds found 
to germinate in several samples of surface of soil taken from a culti- 
vated field in winter and placed in the greenhouse are recorded in the 
present report. The amount of soil taken was a square foot to the 
depth of one and a half to three inches. The present year's report 
also contains the record of the germination of several kinds of weed 
seeds w r hich received different preliminary care. These various statis- 
tics give occasion for some inferences of a practical character. The 
report for 1884 also has some account of several of the fungous par- 
asites w r hich infest weeds, and to some extent help to keep them in 
check. 
Glover-leaf Weevil. — This insect, which has proved destructive to the 
clover crop in some places, was found to have its larvse infested with 
a disease caused by a fungus new to science, Entomophthora Phy- 
tonomi. The fungus is fully described and illustrated in the report 
for 1885, except one form of spore germination, w r hich is given in 1886. 
The effect of the disease upon the insect, its means of propagation and 
distribution are stated. A note in the present report shows that the 
fungus is an efficient check to the insect's multiplication. 
Fungicides. — Beside the account of trials with sulphide of potas- 
sium in checking and preventing fungous diseases of plants, given in 
the present report, there are short notes about trials of other sub- 
stances, and suggestions regarding still others, scattered through the 
several reports, for which the index is to be consulted. Mr. E. S. Goff 
has recorded the results obtained by use of hyposulphite of soda as a 
fungicide in the reports for this and the tw T o preceding years. 
Other Topics. — The present report also contains notes on the con- 
stancy of leaf characters in the dandelion when brought under culti- 
vation, and on a form of apparatus for keeping a constant high tem- 
perature, together with further notes relating to all the reports of the 
Botanist, and an index to them. 
Publication of the Reports for 1884-1887. 
The report of the Station for 1884 (third), was published by the 
State from the press of Weed, Parsons & Co., Albany, N. Y., and 
