344 EXPEKIMENT STATION EECORD. 



of resistant varieties, dipping of seed grain, field treatment by means of fer- 

 tilizers, etc. 



The results are presented in considerable detail, largely in tabular form, and a 

 critical description of F. nivale is also given. 



Smut in small grains, H. D. Hughes and P. C. Taff (Iowa Sta. Circ. 11 

 (1913), pp. 4)- — A. description is given of smuts of small grains, the authors 

 stating that in Iowa loose smut of oats is most prevalent, with covered smut 

 or stinking smut of wheat as second in importance. 



For the control of these diseases the authors recommend the formalin treat- 

 ment for the smut of oats, stinking or covered smut of wheat, and covered smut 

 of barley, and for treatment of loose smut of wheat and barley a modified hot 

 water treatment which consists of soaking the seed for 4 or 5 hours in cold 

 water, after which it is placed in hot water for ]0 to 13 minutes. 



Investig'ations of timothy rust in North, Dakota during- 1913, W. H. 

 Merceb {Phytopathology, 4 (1914), No. 1, pp. 20-22). — Timothy rust {Puccinia 

 phleipratensis) is said to have become prevalent and very destructive in vari- 

 ous parts of North Dakota. Some investigations are reported, in which the 

 author undertook to determine a possible secidial host and the relation of this 

 rust to the rusts on various cereals and grasses. Field observations supple- 

 mented by laboratory and greenhouse work were carried on with a number of 

 rusts which showed that there is apparently no relation between grain and 

 timothy rusts and probably none between the rust on the timothy and that on 

 other grasses studied. 



Heart rot of beets, J. Kappeli and O. Moegenthaleb {Landw. Jahrh. 

 Bchweiz, 21 {1913), No. 8, pp. 432-435, pi. 1, fig. 1).—An account is given of a 

 case in which it is claimed that dust from passing vehicles, etc., was re- 

 sponsible for a great local increase of injury to beets affected with heart rot 

 {Phoma hctw) along a roadside by its effects in clogging the stomata on the 

 upper leaf surfaces and thereby reducing the vitality of the plants. 



The employment of less susceptible varieties, also the protection of the beet 

 crop by planting other and nonsusceptible crops between the beet plants and 

 dusty roadside are recommended. 



The heart rot is said to be communicated by beets infected in the field to 

 sound roots in storage. 



Celery disease {Gard. Chron., 3. ser., 55 {1914), No. 14IS, p. 150). — It is 

 stated that the celery crop of 1913 under nearly the same conditions as that of 

 1912, with the exception that artificial watering was necessary, showed late 

 blight in August. Copper sprays had but little effect except at first. It is 

 held that manuring had little if any influence on the disease, but that dry 

 weather and artificial watering probably are more influential in this regard. 



Cotton anthracnose, H. R. Fulton, J. R. Winston, and R. O. Cbomwell 

 {Ats. in Phytopathology, 4 {1914), No. 1, p. 4^)- — ^ description Is given of the 

 cotton anthracnose which is said to be a recent introduction into North Caro- 

 lina. The topics considered by the authors are the introduction of the fungus, 

 its local spread, factors influencing seasonal development, susceptibility of 

 varieties, and the effectiveness of seed selection for the control of the disease. 



Fruit rots of eggplant, F. A. Wolf {Ahs. in Phytopathology, 4 {1914), No. 1, 

 p. 38). — The author reports a study of the morphology and cultural characters 

 of Ascochyta hortorum, which causes a rot of the fruit of eggplant. 



In addition there is reported an undescribed fruit rot due to a species of 

 Rhizoctonia, which cultural studies indicate is identical with Corticium 

 vagum solani. The fungus is said to excrete an enzym, pectinase, which causes 

 the dissolution of the middle lamellae and the consequent disintegration of the 

 tissues. 



