48 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



tiou of cedar apples ruust depend largely upon the local conditions. The reduc- 

 tion of the number of galls is not sufficient to be of much value in preventing 

 the infection of adjacent apple trees, but if the life of valuable cedars is 

 threatened by the abundance of the fungus, spraying would prevent tlieir mate- 

 rial injury. 



The influence of chemical stiniulation upon the production of perithecia 

 by Melanospora pampeana, F. D. IIeai.d .uul Vknus W. Pool {Nebraska Sta. 

 Rpt. 1908, pp. 129-134, pis. 2). — An account is given describing the relationship 

 found to exist between M. pampeana and certain species of Fusarium and 

 other fungi. This fungus was first isolated while studying the fungi connected 

 with moldy corn, and the perfect fruits of the fungus were found growing 

 among hyphte of Fusarium moniliformc. 



Careful examination of lianging drop cultures of Fusarium and Melanospora 

 failed to reveal any attachment between the two, but there was apparently a 

 chemical stimulation. The mycelial growth produced by BasisporiuDi gaJlarum 

 and F. monilifonne showed that if an old culture was used the formation of 

 perithecia was entirely inhibited; if younger cultures were used the perithecia 

 wei'e formed in 4 to 7 days. 



It is stated that one of the authors has found that Sordaria longicaudata 

 produces an abundance of perithecia following a copious growth of Pilobolus 

 on horse manure, but this fungus always fails to produce "perithecia on steril- 

 ized comi)ost which has not previously borne a crop of Pilobolus. 



The life history and parasitism of Diplodia zeae, F. D. Heald, E. M. Wil- 

 cox, and Venus W. Pool {Nebraska Sta. Rpt. 1908, pp. 1-19, pis. 10, fig. 1).—A 

 study has been made at the Nebraska Station of various fungi associated with 

 moldy corn, and a report is presented on one of them, D. sew, which has been 

 shown to be the cause of a very serious dry rot of the ear as well as to affect 

 other parts of the plant. 



This fungus produces a condition which is called di"y rot, though it is be- 

 lieved that the majority of corn growers refer to such ears as molded. In ad- 

 vanced stages the ear is very light in weight, shriveled, and dark in color, the 

 kernels are either dull or have a dried, brown appearance, and flaky masses of 

 mycelium occur among the grains and on the cob. 



The fungus is described at some length, and a statement is given showing 

 that it may cause a loss of at least 50 per cent in weight of ear. 



In experiments made to demonstrate the parasitism of the fungus, it was 

 found possible to produce typical disease through puncture inoculations into 

 the husk or into the stalk, or by placing mycelium among the silk at the time 

 of pollination. Little or no infection was found to take place from one ear to 

 another during the same season. 



A brief account is given of the distribution of this disease throughout 

 Nebraska, and a bibliography of the literature completes the report. 



Investigations on the combating of barley smuts, O. Appel {llliis. Landio. 

 Ztg., 29 (1909), No. 55. p. 521). — A report is given on investigations on the possi- 

 bility of controlling barley smuts by treating the seed with hot air. 



In the first lot of experiments dry seed was passed through the drying ap- 

 paratus, the temperature ranging from 72 to 89° C. Various modifications of 

 this treatment were carried out, the time of passing the seed and the tempera- 

 ture being modified. As a result of the treatment it was found that the vitality 

 of the seed was very materially injured while the smut was not entirely pre- 

 vented. 



In a second series of experiments the seed grain was first soaked for 4 hours 

 in water at a temperature of 35°, after which it was passed through the drying 

 apparatus at temperatures of 58 to 73°. In some other cases the temperature 



