During the past two seasons several important destructive fungous diseases of cultivated plants have made their appearance in Iowa, namely: Timothy rust, alfalfa rust, apple canker, and onion smut.

About the middle of July, 1910, there was an abundance of timothy rust in a meadow in the vicinity of Ames; subsequently it was reported from other localities in the state. It was again noticed after the September rains in 1911, especially in the timothy breeding plots.