144 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



been iuclosed in a screen wire and put on tlie ground under a grape arbor until 

 April of the next j-ear, thon carried into the laboratory and placed in moist 

 sand in a covered stonder disli. 



The smuts of grain crops, E. M. Frkkman and E. C. Stakman {Minnesota 

 8ta. Bui. 122, pp. .iJ-6'.'/, fiys. ij().— This is a general discussion of the life his- 

 tories of the common smuts of grain in Minnesota and of methods of treating 

 each. The smuts discussed are corn smut, oat smut, stinking smut of wheat, 

 covered smut of barley, soi-ghum grain smut, and loose smut of wheat and of 

 barley. Directions are given for using the formalin, copper sulphate, and hot- 

 water treatments. 



Studies of the life history of the head smut of sorghum, A. A. Pottee 

 (Science, n. ser., 33 (1911), yo. 8.'i9, p. .JJ7).— In a paper read before the Botani- 

 cal Society of Washington March 7, 1911, the author presented the results of 

 his investigations on the life history of this smut. 



Attempts to prevent this smut by seed treatment have failed. Numerous 

 inoculation experiments are reported, but neither local infection, seedling infec- 

 tion, nor floral infection was demonstrated. Detailed histological study has 

 shown that the host plant is affected as a whole, and therefore that the infection 

 must take place at an early stage in the growth of the host. Peculiar floral 

 alterations were shown to be caused by the smut and to contain the smut 

 mycelium, from which it is suggested that the smut may be hereditary, as is the 

 fungus of certain species of Lolium. 



Infection experiments with legumes, K. Brux (Prakt. Bl. Pflanzenbau u. 

 Schutz, n. ser., 9 (1911), No. 3, pp. 35-41, figs. 2).— The results of infection ex- 

 periments with red clover and serradella are reported. The yields of green 

 matter on the inoculated areas showed a marked increase over similar uninocu- 

 lated plats. 



Studies in disinfection of alfalfa seeds, J. K. Wilson (Als. in Science, n. 

 ser., 33 (1911), A'o. 8^9, pp. 5U, 545). — The results are given of sterilizing ex- 

 periments with alfalfa seeds, in which 70 per cent alcohol, 1 : 1,0(X> corrosive 

 sublimate, 10 per cent formaldehyde, 95 per cent alcohol for 10 minutes and 

 then followed by 10 per cent formaldehyde, and a vacuum chamber treatment In 

 water followed by 10 per cent formaldehyde, were tried. 



None of these completely sterilized the seed except the 95 per cent alcohol 10- 

 minute treatment followed by a 6-hour soaking in 10 per cent formaldehyde, and 

 the germination of the seeds was reduced 65 per cent by this treatment. In 

 the water-vacuum-formaldehyde treatment, pressure 3 mm., time 210 minutes, 

 followed by a 30-minute soaking in 10 per cent formaldehyde, some of the seed 

 were sterilized, but their germinating power was destroyed, from which the 

 author concludes that the air in the seeds probably prevented the entrance of the 

 disinfecting solutions thereby protecting the bacteria. 



A contribution to our knowledge of the morphology and life history of 

 Puccinia malvacearum, J. J. Taubenhaus (Phytopathology, 1 (1911), No. 2, 

 pp. 55-62, pis. 3). — In a general study of the life history of this fungus, 2 common 

 types of sporidial formation were observed, first, from free cells formed by the 

 breaking up of the promycelium, and second, the normal sporidia formed on the 

 stergimata. This fungus winters over as (1) living mycelium, as late fall infec- 

 tions develop through the winter and mature their spores in the spring, (2) 

 hilbernating teleutospores on old twigs or dead leaves, and (3) on the seeds or 

 bracts, but not in the embryo. 



Disease-resisting potatoes, G. M. Taylok (Gard. Chron., 3. ser., 49 (1911), 

 No. 1265, p. 181). — In searching for an immune variety of a cultivated potato 

 to be used for breeding disease- resistant strains, the author found in Scotland 

 a potato which had been grown by one family since 1745 and was said never 



