50 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



diseases at times are very destructive, especially where the mulberries are 

 pruned closely. 



Notes are also given on mulberry diseases due to Bacterium mori, Gihberclla 

 pulicaris, and Botrytis cinerea. 



Banana diseases, W. Fawcett (West India Com. Circ, 21 {1912), No. 351, 

 pp. 125, 126). — Accounts are given of the Panama disease due to UstilaginoidcUa 

 muswperda (E. S. R., 25, p. 349) ; the Surinam disease of bananas, which occurs 

 with the Panama disease, but is distinct from it ; the " Moko " plantain disease, 

 due to BaciUus musce (E. S. R., 25, p. 148) ; and the root disease caused by a 

 species of Marasmius. 



The Panama disease of the Gros Michel banana in Surinam, A. W. Drost 

 (Dept. LandJ). Suriname Bui. 26, 1912, pp. ^5, pis. 11). — ^According to the 

 author's investigations, this disease was present in Surinam before the Gros 

 Michel or Jamaica banana had been introduced. He claims that it is caused 

 by the fungus Leptospora musw. 



The fungus penetrates through the root hairs, following the central bundle of 

 the roots, and then spreads to the bulb and ascends into the vascular bundles 

 of the leaf stalk. It attacks principally the bundles where suckers have been 

 cut from the mother plant under the surface of the soil, and as a rule it does 

 not reach the blade of the leaf. Besides perithecia, it is said to produce spores 

 of a Cephalosporium and of a Fusarium type. Inoculations from pure cultures 

 gave positive results. 



The fungus was found to attack different varieties of Musa. It lives for a 

 long time in the soil, from which it may infect new plantings. On this account 

 soils once infected are said to be always unfit for Gros Michel banana cultiva- 

 tion. The moisture content of the soil is said to influence the susceptibility of 

 bananas to the disease. The varieties of M. paradisiaca vary in their liability 

 to infection by it, some varieties being practically immune. 



The banana disease {Jour. Jamaica Agr. Soc, 16 {1912), No. 2, pp. 90- 

 92). — An account is given of the occurrence of the Panama banana disease in 

 Jamaica. 



Die-back or exanthema of citrus trees, E. O. Essig {Pomona Col. Jour. 

 Econ. BGt., 1 {1911). No. 2, pp. 73-82, figs. 2).— The author has brought 

 together much of the information concerning die-back of citrus trees, which 

 it is held is due to physiological causes. 



The withertip disease in Florida, P. H. Rolfs {Pomona Col. Jour. Econ. 

 Bot., 1 {1911), No. 3, pp. 107, IDS). — A brief account is given of the withertip 

 of citrus trees as it occurs in Florida, and the author notes its frequent occur- 

 rence in California. For the controt of this disease the best method in Florida 

 is said to consist of thorough orchard sanitation followed by vigorous pruning 

 out of the affected branches. 



New fungi occurring on orange leaves, H. Rehm {Pomonu Col. Jour. Econ. 

 Bot., 1 {1911), No. 2, p. i06). ^-Technical descriptions are given of Mycosphw- 

 rella lageniformis n. sp. and Sclcroplea aurantiorum n. sp., which occur on 

 orange leaves in southern California. 



Notes on Scleroplea aurantiorum and Mycosphaerella lageniformis, C. W. 

 Metz (Pomona Col. Jour. Econ. Bot., 1 (1911), Xo. 3, pp. 109, 110, fig. 1).— 

 Supplementing the technical descriptions of these fungi (see above), the author 

 gives an account of their attack on the host* plants. The leaves upon which 

 the fungi are found resemble those affected with withertip, due to Colleto- 

 trichum glocosporioides. Both species are often found on the same leaf, but 

 the larger perithecia of Scleroplea usually serve to distinguish them. 



