454 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In his investifxntions the author found about 20 species of fungi, and these 

 are grouped according to the effect on the wood as follows: Wood-bluing 

 fungi — Ceratostoniella S species ; wood-blackening and wood-browning fungi — 

 Graphium 7 species, Ilormodendron 2 species, Honniscium 1 species; and 

 wood-reddening fungi — renicilliuni and Fusariuni 1 species each. These dif- 

 ferent species are described at length, technical descriptions of the organisms . 

 and their effect on the timber l)eing indicated, and in addition notes are giA'en 

 on a few species which have not been sufliciently studied for definite charac- 

 terization. 



Dilute sulphuric acid as a fungicide, II. Kraejieu (/'roe. Amcr. Phil. Soc. 

 Ji5 (IdOH). No. 183, PI). 151-163, /?(/. 1). — On account of the etttciency as a fungi- 

 cide of sulphur when gently heated over steam pipes, the author was led to in- 

 vestigate the action of heat on sulphur and found that when gently heated sul- 

 phur gives off large quantities of sulphuric acid. The ethciency of sulphur as a 

 fungicide when used in greenhouses is believed to be due to the sulphuric acid, 

 as relatively little sulphurous acid is formed under greenhouse conditions. 



In order to determine whether sulphuric acid has a fungicidal value, the 

 author conducted a series of spraying experiments, a preliminary report of 

 which has already been given (E. S. R., 18, p. 240). Strengths varying from 1 

 part to 200 to 1 part to 10,000 were used, and the stronger solutions proved to 

 be quite injurious to many kinds of plants. It was found that there was a con- 

 siderable difference in the resisting power of plants when sprayed in this man- 

 ner, but most of them could withstand strengths of 1 part to 500 or 1 part to 

 1.000 without serious injury. 



Subsequent to these experiments, an opportunity was offered of treating a rose 

 garden for mildew, in which the bushes were sprayed on (> successive mornings 

 with a solution containing 1 part of sulphuric acid to 1,000 parts of water. 

 • Within a week the mildew had disappeared entirely and the young leaves 

 \A hich were putting forth showed no signs of injury. At the same time a par- 

 allel experiment was carried on, using copper sulphate, 1 to 1,000, and roses 

 sprayed with this solution had the tips of the young leaves considerably injured. 



During 1004-5 an opportunity was given of testing sulphuric acid. 1 to 1.000, 

 on roses grown in the greenhouse, with the result that the mildew was com- 

 pletely eradicated and the new growth was vigorous. 



The author concludes that dilute solutions of sulphuric acid may have a bene- 

 ficial effect on the plants treated, apart from their fungicidal action. Inasnmch 

 as the antiseptic proi)erties of sulphurous acid are well established, he believes 

 that possibly the combination of sulphurous and sulphuric acid would be more 

 effective than sulphuric acid alone. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



Parasitism and mutualism in nature, L. I>aloy (rarasitisinc cf Mutual i>^i)ie 

 dans la Nature. Paris: F. Alcan, 1906, pp. VIII + 28-',, figs. 82).— In this vol- 

 ume the author has attempted to present a discussion of various interrelations 

 between animals of different groups and between plants and animals. The dis- 

 cussion, therefore, covers parasitism in general, the parasitism of plants upon 

 animals, and of animals on plants, and the various relations which have been 

 demonstrated to exist in tb(> plant and animal generally between individuals of 

 different sorts. The subject of minncry also receives consideration. 



The bird, its form and function, C. W. Beebe (New York: H. Holt d- Co.. 

 I'JdO, pp. XI -f -'i!)6, fiiia. 371). — ^The author has studied the anatomy and 



