544 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



time, preceding crops, and fertilizei's. The data under each head are tabulated 

 and discussed. (6) Tlie susceptibility of different varieties of grain to the 

 attacks of the rust. Nonresistaut varieties of various grains are mentioned and 

 the extent of rust damage to each. Resistant varieties are named and their 

 degree of innnunity indicated. 



After a careful study of the data included under these six headings, the con- 

 clusion is reached that grain rust is a "disposition" disease and the question 

 is one that nuist be solved liy breeding rust-resistant varieties of the various 

 cereals. 



The parasitic Uredineae of Japanese grasses, S. Ito (Jour. Col. Agr. Tohokii 

 Imp. Univ., 3 (1909), No. 2, pp. lSO-265, pis. 3).— Annotated lists and critical 

 notes are given on the species of Uredinete which have been found growing para- 

 sitically on Japanese grasses. 



Some results and observations noted in breeding cereals in a specially pre- 

 pared disease garden, H. L. Bolley (Amer. Breeders' Assoc. [Proc], 5 {1909), 

 pp. 177-182). — The author gives an account of work with flax and wheat to 

 secure resistance to disease. He describes the methods under which his inves- 

 tigations were carried on and as a result of which he is led to believe that 

 mass breeding for disease resistance is as successful as breeding by individual 

 selections. 



In the author's investigations the conditions for disease are made much more 

 severe than would occur under ordinary tield conditions. The results thus far 

 obtained have shown that with flax varieties ha\e been develoiied which have 

 yielded from 16 to 30 bu. per acre upon soil on which for a number of years 

 it had been impossible to grow flax on account of the wilt. Some similar results 

 have been obtained with wheat, and it has been found that the uredospores 

 of rust appear to confer some degree of immunity or resistance though it does 

 not appear to be lasting. The resistance secured against uredospore attack 

 lias not proved of any value in in-eventing the attack by means of jiecidiospores. 



The author is led to believe, as a result of his work, that the jecidial stage 

 of Puccinia graminis acts as a reinvigorator of stem rusts of wheat, and that 

 on this account the barberries should be rigidly eliminated from wheat- 

 producing regions. 



A new disease of alfalfa in Austria, F. Bubak {AVlener Landw. Ztg., 59 

 (1909), No. 93, p. 909, figs. 9). — A description is given of the leaf spot disease 

 of alfalfa, due to PleosplneruUna hriosiatin. that was observed in Austria during 

 the summer of ]!M)9. 



The fungus produces two kinds of sjtots, small brownish-red or purplish 

 spots, which are sterile, and larger, leathery-brown ones occurring on the leaf 

 and involving considerable of its tissue. It is thought that this disease is 

 probably identical with one observed some years before in northern Italy, 

 although there are some differences in the spore character of the fungi. Asso- 

 ciated with the Pleosphserulina in all the material examined was the imperfect 

 fungus, Ascochgta medieaginis. The author believes it is possible that these 

 two fungi may be closely related, but this remains to be determined. 



Cotton anthracnose, H. W. Barre (Science, n. ser., 31 (1910), No. 78.7. p. 

 g§), — As a result of the author's investigations it was found that seed taken 

 from the field where anthracnose occurred the previous summer contained the 

 fungus, and an examination of bolls showed the presence of the fungus beneath 

 the seed coats and in the tissues of the cotyledons. In addition to the mycelium, 

 spores were frequently found within the seeds. 



Inoculation experiments indicated that the fungus seems to prefer the seed 

 and lint to other portions of the plant, and in many cases these parts of the 

 plant were attacked, with uo indication of the fungus on the walls of the bolls. 



