REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 
The work of this department has been largely directed to the in- 
vestigation of the diseases of plants, and it is only on this subject 
that it seems necessary to make a formal report. Some interesting 
physiological investigations are under way, but are not yet com- 
plete enough to be published. 
The subject of plant diseases is so broad, of such commanding im- 
portance, and one so little understood by cultivators that instead of 
concentrating the work upon a few examples it seemed that the 
most good could be accomplished by making observations upon any 
and all, as they came to hand. In pursuance of this plan whenever 
a disease appeared upon the grounds of the Station or in the neigh- 
borhood, it was subjected to observation and experiment, and as 
completely studied as time and facilities permitted. The report, 
therefore, only treats of such diseases as have thrust themselves 
upon our attention, and only such of these, moreover, as became 
specially conspicuous or yielded the best returns for our labor. It is 
hoped that those who have occasion to consult this report will bear 
in mind that it is only the result of a single season’s work, and that 
a complete and wholly satisfactory presentation is by no means pos- 
sible in so limited time. 
Judging from the comments upon fungous diseases which the 
writer has now and then seen in the agricultural and horticultural 
papers of the day, a short introductory statement of the relation of 
fungi to diseases in plants will not be superfiuous. 
Fungi, like other plants having no green coloring matter, chloro- 
phyll (and let us bear in mind that fungi are amenable to the same 
general laws that govern other kinds of vegetation), may be divided 
into two physiological classes, saprophytes and parasites ; the former 
live upon lifeless organic matter, and the latter upon living matter. 
Many of the moulds, toadstools and other sorts, with which we have 
little to do in this report, are of the first class. To this class also 
belong some which do not wait for plants to die, but, with most un- 
seemly haste, begin feeding upon them while yet alive, and then 
complete their development upon the dead and putrefying bodies 
which they have helped to destroy; such are many of the rots, as 
those of the potato, tomato, and of many fruits. From such sapro. 
phytes, which begin their work of destruction before the plant 
is dead, there are all gradations to the completely parasitic fungi 
[Assem. Doc. No. 33. | 45 
