748 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Meaus suggested for control of this fungus include (1) late sowing (January 

 or Februaiy) ; (.2) selection of resistant varieties; (3) thin sowing, permitting 

 access of light and dry air ; and (4), in case of planting in drills, unequal widths 

 between rows (narrow and wide spaces alternating). 



Foot rot of grains, E. de Polo and E. Voglino (Coltivatore, 58 {1912), 'So. 

 18, lip. 567-572, figs. 2). — The authors briefly state the results of their observa- 

 tions on this disease, which is said to have assumed importance in parts of 

 Italy. 



It was noted that the plants and varieties which are most forward, luxuriant, 

 and promising in spring suffered more from the disease than did those of slower 

 and more open growth, later maturity, and smaller yield. A series of experi- 

 ments extending over several years is suggested in order to find a means of 

 avoiding the loss which is said now to be large. 



The black foot disease of wheat, L. Mangin {Jour. Agr. Prat., n. set:, 2-^ 

 (1912), No. 32, pp. 174-176, figs. 3). — Under the above name the author de- 

 scribes a disease of wheat in which the bases of the culms are attacked. It 

 causes a reduction in the mechanical tissues of the plant to such an extent that 

 the wheat lodges irregularly, without reference to winds or rain. Two fungi 

 are held to be responsible for this trouble, Ophiobolus graminis and Lepto- 

 sphceria herpotrichoides, the latter species being considered the more important 

 in causing its development. 



For the control of this disease the author recommends clearing the soil of 

 the fungus by burning the straw, which is of little value when attacked by the 

 fungus, treating the seed with a solution of copper and dusting with lime, 

 fertilizing the land with superphosphate at the rate of 1,500 kg. per hectare, 

 the use of sulphate of iron on the soil before seeding, late seeding, and a con- 

 sistent system of rotation of crops. 



A fung'us affecting' pastures in Manning' River district, G. Marks (Agr. 

 Qaz. N. S. Wales, 23 (1912), No. 8, p. 682).— A brief account is given of an 

 attack of Physarum cinereum on grasses and clovers of all classes except 

 Paspalum. It destroys plants in small circular patches, ranging in diameter 

 from a few inches to a foot or more. As its destruction is desirable it is sug- 

 gested that the infected areas be covered and burned. 



Potato disease, F. Basty (Petite Rev. Agr. et Hort., 18 (1912), No. 1,21, p. 

 135). — The author calls attention to the high price of potatoes due to a number 

 of causes, among them attacks of Phytophthora infestans, and for its control 

 he recommends spraying with a copper sulphate solution or with Bordeaux 

 mixture. Two treatments are believed to be sufficient in an ordinary year, 

 one to be made before the api>earance of any disease, the other to follow after 

 an interval of 2 weeks or more. 



The effect of certain chemical substances on the vitality of the buds of 

 potato tubers, and their disinfective action on potato blight (Phytophthora 

 infestans), F. Stoward (Proe. Roy. Soc. Victoria, n. scr., 24 (1911), No. 2, pp. 

 270-292, pis. Ji). — The principal object of this investigation was to ascertain 

 the influence, under definite conditions of time, temperature, and concentration, 

 of certain antiseptic, compounds in solution on blight-free or blight-infected 

 tuber.s, particularly in regard to the annihilation of the buds of the treated 

 tubei', and in case of blight-infected material, of the hibernating mj'celium of 

 P. infestans. The tubers were subjected to solutions of common salt, sulphuric 

 acid, boric acid, carbolic acid, and formalin. 



When the tubers were intact, blight free, and mature the entry of the solute 

 during the earlier stages of immersion was chiefly if not solely by way of the 

 buds. These were destroyed by soaking the potatoes for 10 hours in a 10 per 

 cent solution of sulphuric acid. This was also found to destroy all the mycelium 



