450 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Diseases of vanilla, C. Maublanc {Agr. Prat. Pays Chatids, 12 (.1912), Nos. 

 108, pp. 177-188, figs. 2; 109, pp. 277-287, figs. 4).— The author describes a 

 number of fungus diseases of vanilla, among them anthracnose due to Calospora 

 vanilla;, brown spotting of the stems caused by Nectria vanilla, rust caused by 

 TJredo scaiies, leaf spots caused by Fusicladium vanillw, PhyUosUcta vanillce, 

 Amerosporium vanillce, and Ocellaria vanillce, and attacks by Seuraiia coffeicola. 

 S. vanillce, and Gephaleuros licnningsii. 



Notes upon tree diseases in the eastern States, P. Spaulding {Mycologia, Jf. 

 (1912), No. 3, pp. U8-151; ais. in Phytopatliology, 2 {1912), No. 2, p. 93).— 

 The author describes a number of diseases of forest trees in the eastern United 

 States. Notes are given on the distribution of the chestnut blight to the North, 

 South, and West. 



A serious disease of balsam fir, caused by Lophodermium nervi-sequum, is 

 noted as occurring in the Adirondack region. It causes the death of much 

 young growth. Infection occurs in June, the fruiting bodies being formed on 

 the same needles about a year later. 



An apparently serious disease of maple, caused by Myxospoi'ium acerinum, 

 is described. The disease is said to be widespread and affects the smaller 

 branches. Cutting out and burning the affected branches seems to be the only 

 practical method of treatment. 



A disease of Noi-way and other spruces, due to Pliom<i piceina, which results 

 in the defoliation and death of trees, is described. 



Fungus root rot, W. T. Horne (Mo. Bui. Com. Horl. Cal, 1 (1912), No. 6, 

 pp. 216-225, figs. 7). — This disease, known also as oak fungus, toadstool disease, 

 etc., and ascribed to the activity of Arniillaria niellea (other fungi possibly 

 also participating), is said to affect a great variety of trees which are woody 

 and long lived and to be much more abundant than is commonly supposed. It 

 works in areas which tend to enlarge from year to year, revealing its presence 

 by large light brown toadstools beside or around the diseased trees, usually 

 during November and December, and arising from decayed roots of some size 

 deep below the surface of the ground. Immense numbers of spores are pro- 

 duced but these do not seem to spread the disease so actively as do the diseased 

 roots. From their subterranean mycelium often arise shiny black cord-like 

 strands which are able to penetrate the soil for several inches or more and 

 attack healthy roots when reached, thus starting new lines of propagation. 

 The mycelium also spreads upward into a somewhat fan-shaped growth, form- 

 ing a felty white body within the bark of the trees affected. This white mass 

 crowds directly into the perfectly healthy living portion, with the result that 

 this puffs up and becomes watery and often filled with gummy or gelatinous 

 material. The advance of the mycelium is favored by moisture and tends to 

 cause a very complete white rot of the wood. 



It is said to be well to dig and dry the toadstools before they pass beyond 

 the button stage and mature their spores, also to dig and burn or dry the 

 diseased roots, which are almost always of the larger size. The land should 

 then be planted to annual crops not attacked by fungus for a sufficient time to 

 allow the old roots with their mycelium to disappear, or else after a time with 

 trees more or less immune, as pears, black walnuts, figs, cherries, etc. Experi- 

 ments intending to check the spread along diseased roots, as by uprooting a 

 zone of sound trees, placing a wall of tarred paper around the infected area, 

 etc., have been attempted with varying expense and success. 



The fungus of the chestnut tree blight, W. G. Farlow (Science, n. ser., 

 35 (1912), No. 906, pp. .717-722). — A discussion is presented relating to the 



