642 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



states that rapidity of germiuation is correlated with the resistance to the 

 stiuliiug smut, and that these two varieties germinate relatively rapid, hence 

 their partial freedom from disease. 



The experiments with flag smut were largely to identify the species occurring 

 on wheat. This disease is widely distributed in portions of Australia, and in 

 some cases is said to reduce the crop considerably. The smut not only infects 

 the young seedlings, but infection also occurs through diseased straw. It has 

 been believed that the species in Australia occurring on wheat was identical 

 with that occurring elsewhere on rye, but inoculation experiments showed that 

 the fungus could not be transferred from rye to wheat. The species occurring 

 on wheat in Australia is said to be Uroci/stis tritici. 



Bunt, or stinking smut of wheat, F. D. Heald (Insect Pest and Plant Dis- 

 ease Bur. xA'Cftr. Bill. 2, pp. 8, figs. 3). — A description is given of the stinking 

 smut of wheat (TiUetia foetans), and for its prevention the treatment of seed 

 with formalin is recommended. 



Methods of combating the smut diseases of cereals, O. Appel (Jahrb. Deut. 

 Lmuliv. dcseU., 2.'i {1909), No. 2, pp. 319-333). — In an address before an agri- 

 cultural conference, the author gives an account of the various smut diseases 

 of cereals, and describes the different methods for combating them. These 

 include the soaking of the seed with chemicals, such as copper sulphate, for- 

 malin, etc.. and the hot-water treatment in its regular and modified forms. 



Anthracnose of beans, E. M. Wilcox and C. B. Temple {Insect Pest and 

 Plant Disease Bur. Nehr., Dir. Bot. Circ. (i, pp. '/. fiffs. 3). — Popular descriptions 

 are given of the bean anthracnose due to Colletotrichmn Undemuthianum, 

 together with suggestions for the prevention of injury due to that fungus. The 

 methods suggested are the planting of clean seed, which may be obtained by 

 the selection of unspotted pods, and care in not disturbing the plants while they 

 are in a moist condition. All diseased plants should b(^ removed and burned 

 as soon as the presence of the fungus becomes evident. 



Observations on some diseases of beets. Griffon and Maublanc {Bui. 

 Trimest. Soc. Mycol. France, 25 {1909), No. 2, pp. 98-101, fig. i).— The authors 

 from time to time have carried on studies with forage and sugar beets, and in 

 1907 and 1908 were able, on account of the peculiar seasonal conditions, to 

 determine the influence of drought and humidity on the diseases to which these 

 plants are subject. Among those reported upon in the present paper are the 

 heart rot of beets, leaf diseases, and root tumors. 



According to their observations, the heart rot is most prevalent in dry seasons, 

 when it is particularly abundant in clay soils underlaid at a little depth by an 

 impermeable stratum. The persistence and localization of the heart rot to cer- 

 tain soils, they think, indicates that the parasite lives in the soil. The fungus 

 most commonly reported as causing this disease is Phoma tabifica, and the 

 authors think that a lack of water and unfavorable soils render the crop more 

 subject to its attack. As impermeable soils seem to contribute to the conditions 

 best suited to this disesise. it is reconiniended that either beets should not be cul- 

 tivated in such soils or that means should be taken for their improvement. In a 

 series of experiments in which beets were sprayed with copper fungicides for 

 the control of this disease, but little trouble was experienced with either the 

 sprayed or checked plants. This may have been due to the season, which was a 

 very moist one. 



Of the leaf diseases those described are the rust {Uromyces betce), mildew 

 (Peronospora schachtii), and leaf spot (Cercospora beticola). In addition to 

 these fungi the author reports the frequent presence of Ea miliaria beticola. and 

 it is thought that this fungus at times occasions considerable loss. 



