48 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



old averaged 12 ft. 5 in. in height. At a lower elevation the average height 

 was U ft. 9 in. Castilloa seedlings abont T) months old averaged 17 in. in height. 



History of a rubber creeper in tropical Africa (Landolphia dawei), M. A. 

 Chevalier {Ivdia Rubber Jour., n. .scr., SI (1906), No. 10, pp. 514-517). — This 

 article is a translation of the official report of the Botanical Society of France, 

 and contains a botanical description of Landolphia dawei, Clintandra clastica, 

 and L. turhiintta. It is held that the L. forida of Dr. Preuss is identical with 

 L. daicei. This creeper is believed to be the most promising rubber plant of a 

 creeping nature now known with reference to tropical agricultiu'e. 



Coagulation of Castilloa rubber, S. AV. Sinclair (Jiul. Dcpt. Af/r. \Janiaica], 

 h ilfJOG), No. 5, pp. 99, 100).— The author's method of coagulating Castilloa 

 rubber consists essentially in the use of a box about 1.25 in. deep with a filter- 

 paper bottom. When the latex is brought in from the field, about 4 times its 

 volume of water is added. The mixture is then strained and allowed to settle 

 in a cone bottom tank, after which the water is decanted off and the latex 

 poured into the box. The surplus water rapidly passes through the filter paper 

 and the 'remaining rubber layer is exi)Osed to a heat of 110° F. for 5 to G hours. 

 After being used 10 or 12 times the filter paper must be rei)laced. This method 

 is suitable for Castilloa only. The Ilevea latex passes through the filter paper. 



Exportation and packing of Hevea seeds, U. Bernard (Jour. Atir. Trap.. G 

 (1906), No. 5S, pp. 99-101). — An account is given of sending hevea seeds from 

 I'enang in the Malay States to Holland, packed as follows : 1 and 2, charcoal 

 saturated with benzine; li, charcoal; 4, dried leaves; 5, sand, the seeds being 

 first previously well dried ; G, sawdust ; 7, sawdust saturated with benzine. 

 None of the seed germinated which had been packed in material saturated with 

 benzine. Seeds packed in charcoal alone gave 66 per cent germination ; in sand 

 and dried leaves, 46 per cent, and in sawdust, 25 per cent. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Beport of the botanist, G. P. Clinton {Connecticut State Sta. Rpt. 1905, pt. 

 5, pp. 263-3J0. pix. 13. fif/s. 2). — Notes are given on various fungus diseases 

 observed during 1905 and accounts of investigations made upon the downy mil- 

 dew (Phiitophthorn phaseoli) of Lima beans and the downy mildew or blight 

 (P. infestans) of potatoes. 



Dtiring the season of 1905 fungus diseases on the whole were less troublesome 

 in Connecticut than for several years previous, and the author calls attention to 

 a number which have not hitherto been reported as occurring within the State. 

 Among these were a fruit speck of apples due to an undetermined species of 

 lungus, and a pod and leaf blight of Lima beans, which resembled that described 

 as due to PJioina .'<ubcircinatu. although the author states that his specimens did 

 not agree with the descrii)tion of that fungus and that the fungus might be a 

 species of Ascochyta, possibly A. pliaseotoruin. Among the other diseases de- 

 scribed are leaf scorch of the sugar maple, which is due' to some physiological 

 disturbance, probably drought or winter injury to the roots : wilt of okra, and a 

 disease of onions to which the name brittle is given and which is believed to be 

 caused by a species of Fusarium. This disease is generally characterized by the 

 brittleness of the onion leaves, and from this character its name is taken. An 

 examination of the above-ground parts failed to reveal the presence of any 

 insect or fungus attack, but when the underground iiortions wei-e examined the 

 smaller roots were found to i)ossess irregular swellings, and when examined 

 niic-roscopically the mycelium of some fungus was found present. Specimens 

 exposed in 'moist chambers for several days developed a fungus that is believed 



