DISEASES OF PLANTS. 347 



There were 14,178,241 cross-ties, costing $5,210,490, purchased by the above 

 railways in 1909. The number and cost of cross-ties are shown by species. 



Comparative data relative to the service and cost of treated and untreated 

 ties of common Canadian woods show an annual saving in using treated ties of 

 from 0.2 et. per tie with cedar to 2.35 cts. per tie where jack pine is used. For 

 the same 2 species the annual saving per mile of track is estimated at $6 and 

 $70.50 respectively. 



Forest products of Canada, 1909. — Tig-ht and slack cooperage, boxes and 

 box shocks, H. R. MacMillan (Dept. Int. Canada, Forestry Branch Bui. 19, 

 1911, pp. 12).— A statistical report for the year 1909. 



The total value of tight and slack cooperage stock manufactiiretl in Canada in 

 1909 amounted to $1,842,235, of which 86.6 per cent represented the value of 

 the slack cooperage stock. Lumber for boxes and shooks was consumed to the 

 value of .$1,264,376. 



Forest fires and railways, R. H. Campbell (Dept. Int. Canada, Forestni 

 Branch Bui. 16, 1911, pp. 8, figs. 2). — This bulletin considers the relation of the 

 railways to forest fires in Canada. The phases discussed include fires arising 

 from railway construction, fires arising from clearing right of way, locomotive 

 equipment, damages, and penalties. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Investigations on the dissemination of microscopic spores in the atmos- 

 phere, G. BoNNiEE (Bui. 8oc. Nat. Agr. France, 11 (1911), No. 3, pp. 292-S02, 

 figs. 2). — In addition to giving the results previously reported from another 

 source (E. S. R., 25, p. 143) under this title, the author discusses the influence 

 of rain on the number of spores in the atmosphere of a given locality. It was 

 found that immediately after a rain fewer spores were present in the air, as 

 determined on a given culture medium, than before the rain. 



Report of the mycologist for the year ending March. 31, 1911, I, J. B. 

 RoBEB (Bd. Agr. Trinidad Circ. 2, 1911, pp. 1-5). — This report deals with the 

 administrative work and briefly notes the work done along mycological and 

 pathological lines during the past year. 



Report on plant diseases for the year 1908-9, R. Schandee (Be?: Pflan- 

 ^cnschuts, AM. Pflanzenkranlc. Kaiser Wilhehns Inst. Landio. Bro^nherg, 

 1908-9, pp. 161, figs. 18). — The distribution, prevalence, severity, and method of 

 control of diseases of field, forest, orchard, and garden crops are discussed. 



In the first part of the report the general conditions of various crops of the 

 year are taken up. In the second part special reports are made on the pests 

 (fungus, insect, and weed) of each crop in detail, and the results of experi- 

 ments for their control are noted. 



Special attention was given t5 the heart or dry rot of beets, the potato leaf- 

 roll disease, and blackleg of the potato (E. S. R., 23, p. 348, 745; 24, p. 46). 

 The effect of different soils, fertilizers, and table salt on the heart or dry rot 

 of beets is given. In studying the leaf-roll disease the amount of diseased and 

 sound plants of several varieties of potatoes was obtained by using, first, 

 several sound seed tubers, and, second, diseased tubers for seed. The relative 

 resistance and susceptibility of many varieties of potatoes is also noted. Black- 

 leg of the potato was widespread during this year, and was often mistaken for 

 the leaf-roll disease. 



On the distribution of fungus diseases of plants in Russia during 1908, 

 A. A. Iachevskim (Ezheg. Dept. Zeml. [Ru8Sia^, 29 (1908), pp. 678-698).— The 

 prevalence of the common diseases of field, forest, orchard, and garden crops, 

 and the damage done by them are noted. 



