946 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



llirouKliont the State in liKlC, iind report;^ o'otaincl I'/oiii oooperative oorre- 

 spoudeuts form the basis for calculating the losses due to these causes. The 

 diseases are listed under the headings of orchard fruits, small fruits, field, garden, 

 and hothouse crops, and cereal and forage (■roi)s. Suggestions are given for 

 their control, based upon cultural methods and the application of fungicides. 



Peridermium acicolum the secidial stage of Coleosporium solidaginis, 

 G. P. Clinton (Ahs. in >^ci(ncc. n. so:. ^.5 {I'-HH). No. 63',, pp. 289, 2.90).— An 

 abstract is given of a paper by the author in which it is stated that Pcrulcniiiuin 

 acicolum was found to be abundant on Piinix ri//i<}(t in Connecticut during the 

 spring of 100(i. From observations and infection experiments the author has 

 determined that this fungus is the fecidial stage of Coleosporium solidapinis. 

 which is common througliout the T'nited States on golden rod and asters. 



Ascigerous forms of Glceosporium and Colletotrichum, C. L. She.\r and 

 Anna K. Wood (Abs. in Science, n. ser., 23 il'.xn). No. GSJ,, p. 291).— The 

 authors report having studied forms of these fungi from the grape, apple, 

 cranberry, rubber plant, honey locust, gingko, cotton, and l)eans. The asciger- 

 ous form on the apple had been grown before, bvit, so far as known, on none 

 of the other species had these forms been produced. So far as could be deter- 

 mined there were no morphological characters which separated the different 

 forms, and for the present they are to be regarded as varieties of a single 

 species. The ascigerous form has been found under natural conditions in only 

 two cases, on the ai)i)le and on the rubber ])lant. 



The use of the seed plat in the prevention of diseases in wheat, E. ]\I. 

 Freeman (Amcr. Brcctlcrs' Assoc. Proc. 2 {IDOf!). pp. .',9--.',3). — The author 

 discusses smut and rusts as the most important of the diseases of wheat and 

 calls attention to the fact that seed treatment is more or less efficient for the 

 prevention of smut, but that for the prevention of rust the selection of resistant 

 varieties must be relied upon. 



In order to combat these diseases it is suggested that :^ plats of wheat be 

 maintained, (1) the seed plat, (2) the increase plat, and (8) the general farm 

 crop. In seeding the first plat the seed should be thoroughly treated for the 

 prevention of smut, and before the time for harvesting all smutted plants should 

 be destroyed. If persisted in for a time this will result in a crop wholly free 

 from smut. 



To secure freedom from rust it will be necessary to conduct a systematic and 

 rigid selection of disease resistant individuals. 



By following out the author's suggestions it is claimed that it will l)e possiltlc 

 to secure an improvement in yield, earliness, etc., the prevention of the spread 

 of weed seeds, the prevention of loose smut and bunt, and improvement in rust 

 resistance. 



Anatomical physiological study on the influence of environment and 

 excessive fertilization upon the diminished or lost resistance to brusone 

 of bertone rice, II. Farneti {Rir. PutoJ. Yen., 2 (1906), Nos. 1. pp. 1-11: 2-3, 

 pp. n-'i2). — It is claimed that in 1828 when bertone rice was introduced into 

 Italy it was of lower growth than at present, with a slender more rigid stem, 

 with smaller heads, and with more abundant root hairs. At first it was con- 

 sidered as being almost if not absolutely immune to brusone. During the 

 past 70 years it has gradually lost its resisting power to this disease, the 

 mechanical tissues have become reduced in relative proportion, and all the other 

 tissues have become softer. A study of the effect of environment and the exces- 

 sive use of fertilizers indicates that these agents have not greatly influenced 

 the epidermis but have increased the cavity in the stems and therefore weak- 

 ened the plant to a greater or less extent. 



