488 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Two Diseases of Gooseberry Bushes.* — F. T. Brooks and A. W. 

 Bartlett give a scientific account of two fungoid diseases which attack 

 the stems or branches of gooseberry bushes. The first is due to Botrytis 

 cinerea, the conidiophores of which arise from black sclerotia just out- 

 side the cylinder of woody tissue. The leaves of the branches or stems 

 affected fall off, and the whole of the bush above the part attacked 

 very soon dies. The authors proved by culture experiments that Botrytis 

 cinerea really caused the disease. 



The second case of disease is, they say, presumably due to Cyto- 

 sporina Bibis. The dying off of the branches may occur at any time of 

 the year ; but during tbe winter especially, a growth of white mycelium 

 is formed round the base of a dead tree or branch. The authors found 

 a species of Cytosporina on bushes that had been killed by a fungus, 

 but they are not yet entirely satisfied that it is parasitic. 



Disease of Pine Wood.f — R. Falck has devoted great attention to 

 diseases of timber, and the present treatise deals with the destruction of 

 pine wood by Lenzites. He describes the appearance of the normal 

 Lenzites species, and also the monstrosities induced by growth in dark- 

 ness or in too great moisture. He distinguishes three genera, Lenzites, 

 Leucolenzites, and Artolenzites (tropical), describes several new species, 

 and gives in great detail an account of mycelium, spores, etc. Finally 

 he discusses prevention and cure, care as to sterility of tools used in 

 building operations, protection of timber against damage and infection, 

 and the disinfection and impregnation of the wood by tar, etc. 



Plant Diseases.! — E. S. Salmon records the occurrence of Bhizoctonia 

 violacea on the roots of seakale. The attack of the fungus was so severe 

 that curative and preventive measures were adopted. The bed was sprayed 

 in early spring with a solution of copper sulphate and corrosive sublimate, 

 which reduced the disease ; treatment with carbolic acid (1 oz. to 1 gallon 

 of water) completely killed the fungus. Petroleum, formalin, and iron 

 sulphate were also tried, but were ineffectual. 



J. B. Pole Evans § has made a special study of the mildews of the 

 vine. Plasmopara viticola attacks all the green parts of the plant, but 

 it appears first on the under side of the young leaves : the spores fall to 

 the ground and infect the vine stock in the ground. Uncinula spiralis 

 ■ appears on the upper surface of the leaves, and by means of haustoria 

 draws nourishment from the host. 



A. Stift || contributes an account of work and publications on the 

 diseases of beetroot and potatoes during the year 1909, including thoBe 

 caused by insects, etc. (as well as by fungi and bacteria). Among fungi 

 Phoma Betas is chiefly signalled as a disease of beets. Various species 

 of Fusarium and Chrysophlyctis endobiotica are the chief enemies of the 

 potato. An account is given of curative methods. 



* Ann. Mycol., viii. (1910) pp. 167-85 (1 pi.). 



t Midler's Hausckwammuntersuchungen. Jena : Gustav Fischer, 1909, Heft. 3 

 pp. 1-234 (7 pis. and 24 figs.). See also Ann. Mycol., viii. (1910) pp. 257-60. 



\ Gard. Chron., ser. 3, xliv. (1908) p. 1. 



§ Transv. Agric. Soc, vii. (1909) pp. 213-14. See also Centralbl. Bakt., xxvi. 

 (1910) pp. 482-3. !| Centralbl. Bakt., xxvi. (1910) pp. 520-60. 



