Vol. VII. No. 1-52. 



THE AGllICULTURAL NEWS. 



59 



CAROLIXA RICE COOK IIOOK: C'<.in].iU-(l by 

 Mrs. Samitel G. iStoney ; piililixhcd lnj the CanJiiid Bin: 

 Kitchen Association, CharlcMoii, S.C. Price :i-'ic. 



The fact that rice fornix the chief ingredient of the food 

 of 54 per cent, of tlie inhabitants of the ghjbe may well 

 warrant the production of a small book compiled for the 

 purpose of giving instruction.s a.s to different methods of 

 cooking and serving this article of diet. It is with this 

 object that the abo-se booklet of ninety odd jiages has been 

 published, and since it issues from Carolina, it naturally lays 

 .special stress on the luitritious (jualities of the well-known 

 Carolina rice. 



The book is divided into sectious, and the several 

 .sections are composed of recipes giving instructions as to the 

 use of rice in the prejiaration of breads, soups, tish, meat, 

 and side dishes, sweets, and invalid diet. 



In view of the abundance and cheapness of this article 

 of diet, a booklet containing so much information on the 

 subject of its preparation for food should certainly serve 

 a useful ]:iur|)ose. 



IXSECTS IXJURIOUS TO VEGETABLES: By 

 C. F. Chittenden, D.Sc. Xew York : Onni'/e Jiidd Conqxiny : 

 London: Keyan Paul, Trench, Triiliver <(■ Co., Ltd. 

 j,p. XIV +262. 



This little book is .specially adapted to the use of the 

 general farmer, fruit grower, and gardener in the United 

 States. 



It is freely illustrated in the text with figures of the 

 insect pests dealt with. 



The subjects treated include a general outline of Ento- 

 mology, prevention of injury from insects by proper farming 

 methods, insecticides with directions for their preparation 

 and use, general crop pests and the pests of various crops, 

 grouped together according to the ci'ops they attack. To 

 this is added a useful bibliography. 



Most of the subject-matter has been previously published 

 by the author in the publications of the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 



This volume is of a very practical nature, and shouhl be 

 useful to agriculturists generally, l)u}; especially in locali- 

 ties where the crops mentioned are grown, and where the 

 particular pests of these crops abound. , 



Coffee in Porto Rico, in the mountainous 



interior of Porto Bico there is a cniisiderable area under 

 coffee cultivation. It is stated that at present there are 

 17,000 plantations, comprising 185,0<i0 acres, the average 

 yield of which is 200 ft. an acre. The industry, however, 

 is not in a flourishing condition, owing to inferior methods 

 of cultivation and curing, and alsn to the difficulty of 

 obtaining a remunerative market. (U. S. Coiimhtr Report.) 



IMMIGRATION INTO CUBA. 



The immigration movement into Cuba forms the 

 subject of an interesting report lately issued by the 

 Secretary of the Treasury of the Cuban republic. 



From the figures given in the report it appears that 

 during the fiscal year ending June -30, 1907, the number of 

 immigrants entering the is.l9,nd was 29,572. Of the.se by far 

 the greater number — no less than 22,171 — came from Spain, 

 2,044 from England, and 1,709 from North America. Of 

 the great Spanish influ.x, 18,261 were males and 3,917 

 females. These figures for the immigiation of the jsast year 

 show a great falling off as compared with tho.se of 1905-6, 

 when no less than 52,652 immigrants entered Cuba. 



About half the Spanish innnigrants are day laliourer.s 

 or field hands, a small number being artisans and traders. 



FUNGUS DISEASES OF SWEET POTATOS, 



The following brief descriptions of some of the 

 chief fungus diseases of sweet potatos may be of 

 interest : — 



(1) The West Indian ilisease of sweet potatos is caused 

 by the mycelium of a Basidioinycetous fungus (most probalily 

 a species of Marasniiuii) that envelops the roots underground, 

 and eventually renders them unfit for use. 



(2) White rot. This fungus attacks the roots and 

 changes the tissues of the root into a whitish granular 

 substance. The fungus is a Phyeomycete, and the spores can 

 live in the soil for a considerable jjcriod. Care should be 

 taken not to plant sets coming from roots infected with this 

 disease, and none of the diseased roots should be stored. 



(3) Black rot. Dark brow]i or greenish spots are formed 

 on the root. These spots become larger and extend deeper 

 into the tissues of the potato, until finally the entire root 

 turns a brownish-black. The affected potatos are totally 

 unfit for use. It is caused by Sphaeronema fii.ihriatuni, 

 (Ceratocyuis fimbriata), and this fungus may attack the 

 young shoots, producing black patches on the stem.s. The 

 disease is then known as ' black shank.' 



(4) Dry rot. The whole upper end of the root becomes 

 much wrinkled and covered with small jiimples. This condi- 

 tion progresses until the whole of the root is diseased and 

 the interior converted into a dry whitish powder. This rot i.s 

 said to be caused by Phonia hatatae. 



(5) iicnh. This disease is confined to the surface of the 

 root, upon which it makes its appearance first as a small brown- 

 ish speck. This spot enlarges, and assumes a dark cohmr and 

 rough appearance. Larger arfeas of the root may become affec- 

 ted, or often shrivelling takes place to a considerable extent. 



(6) Hoil rot. This disease is strictly a field disease, and 

 the principal damage is confined to the early part of the 

 season. It is characterized liy the fact that the affected parts of 

 the root cease to grow, \\ hile the adjacent portions not only 

 continue growing, but remain perfectly healthy and edible. 

 The roots therefore assume a shape somewhat similar to that 

 of an hour-glass. 



(7) Soft rot. This disease takes place chieHy where 

 the roots are stored. An affected potato when Ijroken oi>en 

 is found to consist of a l.)lack mass of sjjores. It is due to 

 Rhi:.opnf. nigricans, a cosmopolitan fungus that gains entrance 

 to the roots through woumls caused in digging or storing. 



(8) Stem rot. This disease first appears on the stem at 

 the level of the ground, and progresses both upwards and 

 downwards. It is supposed to be caused by a species of 

 Nectria. 



