246 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



On smut of wheat, barley, and oats. .7. Khiksson (/v. LanilfJn: Akdd. llnndl. 

 (ich Tidslr.. Jp ilUOS), Xo. .',, pp. 27-'i-iS'). /if/s. G). — Hrief illustrated descrip- 

 tions of the different kinds of smuts are given, with preventive measures. 



On barley smut and methods for its eradication, II. TiiriN ( Kririffcs I't- 

 mdcsfiii: Tidslo:, 19 (HW'J), Xo. 2, pp. U'.)-i.iO). — The author reconnnends the 

 hot-water treatment as a reliable method for eradicating loose barley smut. 



Trials with the hot- water treatment for six-rowed barley, 1908, M. I^. 

 MoRTENSEN [Tidsskr. Landbr. Plantcarl, 16 {1909), No. 1, pp. 110-119).— Ex- 

 periments were conducted on 6 different farms with six-rowed barl(>y treated 

 by the hot-water method for J'lcospont gruniinca. 



There was an average increase of about 10 i)er cent in the yield of grain 

 and 8 per cent in the yield of straw. The best method of treatment was found 

 to be dipping the grain without previous treatment 20 times in the course of 5 

 minutes in water heated to 56-57° C, and immediately spreading it in a thin 

 layer on a clean floor to cool. Since about 1 per cent of seed will be likely to 

 remain diseased after this treatment, it is recommended that treating the seed 

 grain every year be continued. 



Preliminary note on a serious stem disease of alfalfa (Agr. Jour. Cape 

 Good Hope, S.') ( IU09), No. Ji, pp. 393-396). — An account is given of a disease of 

 alfalfa that has been found in a number of parts of Cape Colony. The trouble 

 is due to TylrnHiiis dip-'^aci, a stem-infesting nematode known to occur as a 

 pest in Europe on rye, oats, onions, hemp, potatoes, clover, alfalfa, and other 

 plants. The nematodes cause characteristic distortions of the stems, and the 

 discoloration of the plants serves to indicate their presence. 



It seems to be pretty well established that the disease was introduced into 

 South Africa from Europe in seed, and attention is called to the possibility of 

 disseminating the disease through the sowing of infected seed. 



The i)resent report, which is regarded as preliminary, is to be followed by a 

 more detailed study. 



The club root disease, F. K. Eavx (Tid.sskr. JjUndbr. I'lanlcavl. 15 (1908), 

 No. Ji, pp. 527-620, maps -)). — This is a repoi't on the history of the club root 

 disease, its method of distribution and conditions of contagion, the appearance 

 of the disease in Denmark- and methods of combating it. An extended bibli- 

 ography is given at the end of the paper. 



Black rot of ginseng' roots, W. H. Rankin (Spec. Vropx, n. ser., S (1909), 

 No. 87, pp. 208-210, flgs. 3). — The black rot of ginseng, due to Rhizoctonia sp., 

 is described and some observations are given on the fungus causing it. The 

 diseased roots when dug are said to be coal l»lack in color, devoid of fibers, and 

 covered with peculiar protuberances. 



The fungus, which is sterile, has been studied to some extent, and the author 

 states that a peculiar thing about the disease is that its period of attack on the 

 roots is in the winter, during the cold weather. At a temperature of 40° F. 

 the fungus grew luxuriantly and produced sclerotia in plate cultures. 



An attempt was made to determine some means of control, but it was found 

 that the fungus grew equally well on an acid or alkaline medium. It Is, there- 

 fore, probable that soil ti-eatments, such as changing the acidity or alkalinity 

 of the soil, would not be of any value. 



Observations on potato canker, H. Justing (Dent. Laitdic. I'ressc, 36 (1909), 

 No. 68, pp. 725, 726, figs. 5). — Notes are given on potato canker, due to Chryso- 

 phlyctis endobiotica, and observations made on the relative susceptibility of dif- 

 ferent varieties of potatoes to the disease, its introduction through the planting 

 of infected tubers, and the distribution of the fungus through the soil. 



Investigations on the influence of cultivation and fertilizers on the leaf 

 curl and bacterial disease of potatoes, B. Stecjlich (tidchs. Landw. Ztschr., 



