DISEASES OF PLANTS. 539 



of experiments with saponified creosote and naphthalin by the open-tank method 

 of treating timber. 



The data given are for Scots pine and. spruce timber, a small quantity of un- 

 seasoned larch timber having been used for comparison. From the results thus 

 far secured the following deductions are made : 



The addition of 0.25 per cent or less of caustic soda In pure creosote improves 

 penetration in the case of timbers which take the preservative with difficulty. 

 Saponification of the creosote makes it possible to dilute the preservative by 

 the addition of water and thus cheapens the creosoting process. Saponified 

 diluted creosote may be claimed as a cheap effective substitute for the " Reup- 

 ing " process of professional creosoters. Average creosote may be diluted to as 

 much as half its full strength with good results. Naphthalin proved to be an 

 excellent preservative and discolored the timber less than creosote. Large 

 quantities of naphthalin are taken up by most timbers, hence its cost as a 

 preservative is practically the same as creosote. Green timber can be treated 

 with naphthalin quite as effectively as air-dried timber. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Diseases and parasites of the principal cultivated plants, A. Canevaei 

 {Malattie e Parassiti delle Principali Piante Coltivate e loro Rimedii. Catania, 

 Italy, 1913, pp. 374, fiffS. 101). — Descriptions are given of the principal fungus 

 and insect pests as well as the diseases due to malnutrition and other physio- 

 logical disturbances, and where known, suggestions are offered for their control. 



The diseases and injuries of cultivated plants in 1911 {Ber. Landw. 

 Reichsamte Innern, Xo. 30 (1914), pp. VIII-{-339, fig. 1). — After reviewing the 

 weather conditions in Germany in 1911 a description is given of the influence of 

 diseases and other injuries on the yields of some of the more important crops. 

 Following this, reviews are given of the literature relating to the more im- 

 portant injuries to cultivated plants and of recent publications relative to ap- 

 paratus and materials used in plant protection. The publication concludes with 

 a review of six years' work, 190(>-1911, on plant protection work undertaken 

 by the Imperial Biological Institute of Agriculture and Forestry. 



[Report on plant protection in Baden, 1912], C. von Wahl and K. MtJLLEE 

 {Ber. GrossJi.. Bad. Landw. Vers. Anst. Augustenb., 1912, pp. 89, fig. 1). — This 

 report deals comprehensively with the diseases and insect enemies of gi'aiies, 

 fruits, berries, grains, tubers, forage plants, vegetables, etc., and the remedies 

 tried or proposed. The influence of the dry hot summer season of 1911 is also 

 discussed. Publications issued by the station or other related contributions ap- 

 pearing in 1912 are listed. 



Division of plant pathology and mycology, I. B. P. Evans {Union So. 

 Africa Dept. Agr. Rpt. 1912-13, pp. 169-183, pis. 19).— After a brief description 

 of the new laboratory for plant pathology and mycology, the author describes 

 the most conspicuous diseases observed during 1912-13. Among the fungus dis- 

 eases of economic importance reported from South Africa for the first time are 

 apple tree disease {Cytospora leucostoma), apricot and nectarine tree disease 

 (Calospha'ria princeps), fescue grass ergot {Claviceps purpurea), lemon scab 

 (Cladosporiiim citri), orange fruit scab {Sporodesmium sp.), onion scab (Ver- 

 miciilaria circinans and Mystrosporium alliorum), orange leaf blotch (Pleospora 

 disrupta), peach mold (Fusarivm putaminum), pomegranate rot (Sterigmato- 

 cystis sp.), potato stalk or sclerotium disease (Sclerotinia .tclerotiornm) , sugar 

 cane diseases due to a species of Sphferonema and a species of Phoma, and a 

 bacterial disease of tobacco similar to that known as the Granville tobacco wilt 

 in the United States, 



