152 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Investigations on the immunity and susceptibility to disease of woody 

 plants, E. MiJNCH (A'aturw. Ztachr. Foist u. Laudic, 7 {li)09), Xos. 1, i)i>. J.'/-7J, 

 fig. 1; 2, pp. 81-lllt, figs. 4; 3, pp. 129-160) .—Studies have been made of the 

 effect of moisture, air, and other factors in wood on the development of fungi. 

 Inoculation experiments were made with the spores of various fungi and tlie 

 growth determined. 



In exi»eriments with bhio rot of timber (('enitostomclla cccrulca) the sapwood 

 of pine was found to be immune to tlie fungus attaclv when the volume of air 

 in the timber was about 15 per cent of tlie volume of the fresh wood. This was 

 obtained when the normal winter watci- content was increased about 12 per 

 cent. A water content of 17 per cent and a volume of air equaling 42 per cent 

 was found the optimum for the development of the fungus. Free water was 

 not necessary for the development of the mycelium, but if the water of imbibi- 

 tion was reduced considerably the growth of the fungus was impossible. 



Simihir experiments were carried on with various species of Agaricus, Poly- 

 porus, Stereum, etc., on horse chestnut, poplars, and other species, with Nec- 

 tria on elm and beech, etc., and the volume of air in proportion to the moisture 

 content was found to be an important factor in fungus development. Differ- 

 ent species of fungi were found to differ very materially in their requirements 

 in this respect. 



Instructions for spraying, W. H. Chandler (Ann. Rpt. Mo. Bd. Hart., 2 

 (1908), pp. Sl'i-S^.'t, pis. 5). — Directions are given for the preparation and 

 application of some of the more common fungicides and insecticides, and the 

 author indicates the times of application and the best form of solutions to use 

 for different diseases. In this connection attention is called to the i-esults that 

 have been obtained with dust sprays. It is stated that dust sprays are so much 

 less efficient in controlling insects and fungus diseases of orchards that they are 

 seldom if ever to be recommended. 



Copper in vineyard soils (Rev. Sci. [Paris], .'{7 (1909), 11, No. 4, PP- 114> 

 115). — An account is given of investigations conducted from 1886 to 1906 by 

 E. Chi'ard. of Lausanne, in which he sought to determine the amount of cop- 

 per deposited in soils by spraying. During this time he estimates that there 

 was about 26 gm. of copper deposited in each square meter of the soil, and an 

 attempt was made to determine^whether this remained in the sujierficial por- 

 tions of the soil or was carried below and out of reach .of the roots. Analyses 

 showed that the quantity of copper found in the surface was small, the greater 

 portion of it having been washed into the soil by infiltration. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY—ENTOMOLOGY. 



Game laws for 1909, T. S. Palmer, H. Oldys, and C. E. Brewster (Tl. 8. 

 Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 376, pp. 56, figs. 2). — This summary, similar in scope 

 to those issued annually since 1902, includes changes in the laws made during 

 the present year. The information given has been revised and the section 

 relating to seasons entirely rewritten to show the open instead of the closed 

 seasons. In the section relating to the legislation of the year a review is given 

 of the new laws and the more important bills which failed to pass. 



Report on the use of virus for extermination of rats, ,J. M. Young (Aberdeen 

 and No. of Scot. Col. Agr. Bui. 12, pp. 10). — Tests were made of 3 commercial 

 products claimed to be pathogenic in rats, namely, Danysz bacillus, Liverpool 

 virus bacillus, and the bacillus of ratin (Nos. 1 and 2), the 3 preparations being 

 used in localities at considerable distances from each other. 



From the reports received the following conclusions have been drawn : Each 

 product was successful in killing rats. There was no suggestion of any being 



