156 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



The disease is cbaracterized by the presence of yellowish-brown spots on the 

 leaves and flower stalks, the spots sometimes appearing at the tips of the leaves, 

 but usually some distance below. The disease usually makes its first appearance 

 about the end of April, and where the cells are killed the uitper part of the 

 leaf stalk or flower stalk fre(iuently bends over. When the flower stalk is 

 attacked the flowers naturally suffer, sometimes failing to open entirely, and 

 they are alvA'ays injured for market i)urposes on account of the reduction in 

 . the length of the stalk. 



The fungus, which appears to be hitherto undescribed, is a species of Ramu- 

 laria, to which the name R. narcissi is given. A technical description is 

 appended. 



The best means of preventing the disease thus far known seems to be a solu- 

 . tion of one-half ounce of potassium sulphid in a gallon of water. 



A species of Hormodendron on Araucaria, J. B. Pollock (Rpt. Mich. Acad. 

 Sci., 7 (IDii-J). pp. 56. 57). — The writer's attention was recently called to an 

 olive-colored mold-like growth on the surface of living branches and leaves of 

 an Araucaria grown as a house plant. The growth while not copious was easily 

 visible by the fact that the parts coated by the fungus were of a noticeably dif- 

 ferent color from the normal parts. An examination showed that the fungus 

 was a species of Hormodendron, probably H. cladosporioides. Later the same 

 fungus was found in a greenhouse at Ann Arbor growing on diseased violet 

 leaves. 



The only species of Hormodendron that has been described as an active para- 

 site is H. hordei, which is. quite destructive to barley. The question is raised as 

 to whether the fungus on the Araucaria is parasitic or not, and it is believed 

 .that the condition under which the plant was grown indicates that if parasitic 

 the fungus is only weakly so. 



Directions for making Bordeaux powder, R. M. Bird (Missouri Sta. Circ. 

 Inform. 20, pp. 3). — As the result of experience in the use of dry Bordeaux mix- 

 ture powder in orchards, a modification of the directions for making the mix- 

 ture previously given (E. S. R., 15, p. 166) is noted, whereby the work is simpli- 

 fied and much of the annoyance of flying dust and lime is avoided. 



As now recommended, 10 lbs. of copper sulphate is dissolved in 4 gal. of hot 

 water. From a barrel of quicklime 5 lbs. of the best is taken to make a milk- 

 of-lime solution with 4 gal. of water. The remaining lime is slacked to a per- 

 fectly dry dust. The copper and milk-of-lime solution are poured together 

 simultaneously into a third vessel and stirred until no greenish streaks appear, 

 after which the mixture, water and all, is scattered in the lime dust and mixed 

 with a rake. While still somewhat damp it is rubbed through the sieve and 

 spread out to dry. This requires a day or two, after which the mixture will 

 keep indefinitely. These quantities make about 2.jO lbs. of powder. 



Bordeaux mixture, G. Gandara (Com. Par. Afir. 1 .l/r,//co]. Circ. 35, pp. 9, 

 figs. 11). — Directions are given for the preparation and application of Bordeaux 

 mixture for the control of various fungus diseases. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



Directions for destroying pocket gophers, D. E. Lantz {J\ »<^'. Dcpt. Apr., 

 liiol. Survey Circ. 52, pp. J/, figs. 3). — Pocket gophers are distril)uted almost 

 everywhere west of the Mississippi and are occasionally so injurious that they 

 must be combated by means of strychnin, carbon bisulphid. or traps. The pres- 

 ent circular is based on Bulletin 5 of the Biological Survey (E. S. R., 7, p. 20). 



Directions for preparing specimens of large mammals in the field, C. H. 

 Mekkiam {V. 8. Dept. Agr., Biol. ^Survcl| Circ. J/D. pp. ',, figs. 6). — For the pur- 



