252 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



quotes from a letter calling attention to the extreme sensitiveness of the coco- 

 nut palm in Ceylon to injury to its leaves. It is said that the slightest prick 

 or scratch to the tender part of the plant may start the disease. At first a 

 brovv^nish mark appears around the wound, and this gradually spreads until it 

 reaches the center of the bud, where all the young leaves are destroyed. 



There seems to be a connection between the appearance of the monsoon and 

 the bud rot. At this time the rains and storms accompanied by the wind not 

 only cause a rapid increase iu the sap, but also result in much injury to the 

 leaves, often breaking them oft at the base. It is thought that these accidental 

 injuries form one of the principal means of entrance of the organisms which 

 cause the disease. 



Attention is directed to the apparent resistance to injury of the coconut palm 

 of the West Indies, where the leaves are often cut without evidence of the oc- 

 currence of the disease. 



A new disease of lily of the valley, J. Politis (Riv. Patol. Veg., 5 {1911). 

 No. 10, pp. lliO-l'fl ; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, 

 and Plant Diseases, 3 {1912), No. 2, p. 566). — The author describes a disease 

 of Convallaria majalis in the botanic gardens of Pavia, the plants being attacked 

 by Botrytis vulgaris. The fungus caused much injury to the vegetative parts 

 of the plant and reduced the number of flowers to a considerable extent Inocu- 

 lation experiments demonstrated the parasitism of the fungus, as has been 

 shown by other investigators. 



Loranthus sphaerocarpus parasitic on Dracaena, F. Aeens {Centbl. Bakt. 

 [etc.], 2. Abt., 32 {1912), No. 20-25, pp. 564-587, pi. 1, figs. 6).— This is a de- 

 tailed study of host and parasite in their anatomical and physiological relations. 



The mycoplasm theory, J. Eriksson {Biol. Centbl., SO {1910), No. 1, pp. 

 618-623). — This is a brief account of previous studies on the subject by the 

 author and some others (E. S. R., 26, p. 846). 



Notes on some western Uredineae which attack forest trees, G. G. Hedgcock 

 {Mycologia, J^ {1912), No. 8, pp. Ufl-l^l; abs. in Phytopathology, 2 {1912). 

 No. 1, p. If7). — An account is given of a number of species of Peridermium 

 which attack conifers, especially in the Western United States. Among them 

 are P. fihimentosum, P. pscuclo-balsameum, P. harknessii, and P. montanum. 

 In addition descriptions are given of TJredo {Melampsora) bigelowii, the 

 aecidial form of which occurs on larches, the other stages being very prevalent 

 on willows in the West and Southwest. The presence of IJ. (M.) medusce, a 

 fungus common on poplar, is also noted. 



The chestnut bark disease, X. J. Giddings ( West Virginia Sta. Bui. 1S7, p(p. 

 209-225, figs. 12). — The blight or bark disease of chestnut due to Diaporthe 

 parasitica is described. The history of the disease, description of its attack on 

 chestnut trees, and its distribution throughout the United States are indicated, 

 together with such measures as have been adopted by the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Chestnut Tree Blight Commission for its 

 control. The author states that the disease has been reported from 3 rather 

 widely separated localities in West Virginia, and recommendations are made to 

 prevent its establishment and spread. 



The progress of the fight against the chestnut blight {Forest Leaves, IS 

 {1911), No. 6, pp. 88, 89, figs. 6). — An account is given of the work of the Penn- 

 sylvania Chestnut Tree Blight Commission during 1911 in locating the spread 

 of the chestnut blight in the State. The commission is carrying on laboratory 

 work, determining the life history of the fungus. It is stated that the only 

 practical method of destroying the si^ores is felling the trees and burning the 

 bark and brush. As part of the State is badly infected, the commission is 

 recommending the cutting and utilization of the timber as rapidly as possible. 



