392 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



known as Peridermium StroM, causes blister-rust on various Pines. The 



disease appeared at Geneva (New York), and, though all the currants 

 were destroyed, it appeared again. Subsequent search led to the dis- 

 covery of two specimens of Pinus Strobus infected with the disease in 

 the near neighbourhood ; and it was from this that the disease had 

 spread. 



Jose Florenza y Condal* reports that the rice crops in the right delta 

 of the Ebro were seriously affected by Puccinia Oryzse, and a good 'part 

 of the crop was destroyed. The attack was favoured by soil fatigue, the 

 high level of the water causing the beginning of asphyxiation, the us- of 

 non-sterilized seed, the use of fertilizers containing an excess of nitrogen 

 with a deficiency of phosphates, potash and iron, unfavourable weather 

 conditions and plant crowding. Remedial measures affecting these 

 conditions are recommended. 



Smut of Sorghum.| — Alden A. Potter has examined the occurrence 

 of loose kernel smut in America, and has unravelled the confusion 

 existing between it and the " closed " or " covered " species. The latter 

 is Sphacelotheca Sorghi ; the loose species is S. cruenta, and the latter is 

 the American species. The spores of the two species are very much 

 alike, but the membrane covering the " closed " species is much more 

 permanent. The fragility of the *S'. cruenta " membrane " is due not 

 only to its thinness, but also to the more nearly spherical shape of its 

 component cells. 



P. B. Pole-Evans % states that S. Sorghi is common throughout South 

 Africa as a parasite of Kaffir corn {Sorghum vulgare). The corn is 

 attacked when the plants are young, and the fungus remains concealed 

 in the tissues of the host until flowering, when it causes a singular 

 deformation of the ovaries and prevents grain production. Sterilizing 

 the seed-«:rain is recommended. 



Secotium agaricoides.§ — Henry S. Conard has published an account 

 of the fungus, which is nearly related to Agaricus [PsaUiota), and not to 

 the Gasteromycetes as has sometimes been supposed. The species 

 resembles a puff-ball in general appearance, but grows on a short stalk 

 which is continued through the body of the fungus as a columella. 

 Detailed descriptions are given of the growth of the fungus, with an 

 account of the histology and cytology. The relationships of Secotium 

 are also examined. 



Study of Fomes.|| — C. G. Lloyd has published an account of all 

 the known species of Fomes. A history of the genus is given, and a 

 description of the structure. The species are classified under .seven 

 general divisions, according to colour either of the substance of the plant 



* Svnd. Kieg Delta Derecho del Ebro, Tarragona (1914) 82 pp. (figs.). See also 

 Bull. Agric. Intell. Rome, vi. (1915) pp. 469-70. 



t Phytopath., v. (1915) pp. 149-54 (2 pis. and 1 fig.). 



t Agric. Journ. S. Africa, vii. No. 6 (1914), pp. 811-14 (1 pi.). See also Bull. 

 Agric. Intell. Rome.vi. (1915), p. 470 



§ Mvcologia. vii. (1915) pp. 94-104 (2 pis.). 



|| Synopsis of the Genus Fames. Chin., Ohio, 1815, pp. 209-S8 (41 figs.). 



