346 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Tlu> author tostod both liot wiilcr and hot air as iiioans of jn-eventinj; loose 

 smuts of barlt'.v ami summer wheat, and found both methods quite efficient 

 where the grain was given a preliminary soalcing of 6 liours in cool water. A 

 temperature of 54 to 5G° C. for hot water, drying the seed for 20 minutes at 

 (55° after preliminary soaking, destroyed all smut in the seed grain, and the 

 plats on which treated grain was sown were without any trace of disease. 

 In comparative experiments where there was no preliminary soaking of the 

 seed both of the treatments were without any practical effect. 



Clover canker, P. Ulrich (Laiidw. WchnM. Schlcfi. Hoist., 59 (1909). No. 

 J/l. Pit. (!9()-()'J,i. figs. 3). — A description is given of clover canker, due to 

 t<ch'r(tiiiiia trifolioriDti. In addition to red clover the fungus is known to 

 attack alsike, white and crimson clovers, esparcet, hop clover, etc. It flourishes 

 best in moist soils, and its spread through the presence of spores on the seed 

 is claimed. 



A leaf spot of cucumbers, II. M. Quanjer (Tijdschr. Plantenziekten, l.) 

 {J 90S), J). 78; (lbs. in Medcd. Rijks Hoogcre Land, Tuin en Boschhoinvsch.. 1 

 (1908), PI). l')9, 160). — A brief account is given of the leaf disease of cucumbers 

 due to Conjnrspora maze'i. Tlie disease can be held in check by spraying with 

 Bordeaux mixture or some other good fungicide. 



Coniothecium arachideum, a new fungus on peanuts, R. Lucks (Ccnthl. 

 naht. [etc.], J. .\ht.. 2 J (1909), No. 21-25, pp. 6J,2-655. pis. 3).— A description 

 is given of C. arachideum, a new species of fungus found occuring on peanut 

 cake and peanut meal. The author's investigation showed that it is of quite 

 common occurrence, being present in samples of peanut products from Asia 

 and Africa, and it is also believed to occur in the United States. 



Notes on some potato diseases (Jour. Bd. Ayr. [London], 16 (1909), No. 8, 

 pp. 61/2-646, pi. 1). — During an investigation of the prevalence of the wart 

 disease of potatoes (Chnjsophlyctls endobiotica) in Great Britain, a number 

 of other diseases were observed to be widely distributed, and brief notes are 

 given on them preliminary to a full report of the investigation. The diseases 

 described are corky scab (Spongospora scabies), root rot (Rhizoctonia vio- 

 lacca), leaf blotch (Sporidesmiiim solani varians), blackleg or stem rot (Bacil- 

 lus phytophthorus). and a disease due to 11 i/poehnus solani. 



Potato diseases, R. Schander (Fiihling's Landw. Ztg., 58 (1909), No. 8, pp. 

 273-285. /i(/s. J). — .Vttontion is called to the leaf roll and bacterial ring diseases 

 of potatoes in an account given of experiments which show the effect of selec- 

 tion of tubers on the presence of the diseases. Varieties were found to differ 

 very materially in their susceptibility, and the author believes that through 

 the breeding of resistant varieties the losses due to these diseases may be 

 largely overcome. 



Resting' spores of the potato fungus, L. R. Jones (Science, n. ser., 30 

 (1909), No. 779, pp. 813, 81J,) .—\\\ a previous publication (E. S. R., 20, p. 1139) 

 the presence of oogonium-like bodies in cultures of the potato-rot fungus (Phy- 

 tophthora infcstans) was reported. In the present account the author states 

 that under favorable circumstances it has been possible to obtain what appear 

 to be fully matured resting spores of this fungus. These are found most 

 abundantly where the organism is grown on potato gelatin or Lima-bean agar. 



The author states that the oogonium-like bodies have apparently developed 

 into mature resting spores, which have a thick spiny brown exospore with dense 

 granular contents, bearing a general resemblance to the oospores of related 

 species. As yet none of these resting spores have been germinated, so that it 

 is not known positively whether they act functionally in that manner or not. 

 No body comparable to au autheridium has yet been discovered. 



