742 EXPERIMENT STATIOISr RECORD. 



of the latex and its exploitation as a rubber producer. The quantity of rubber 

 in tlie latex is only about 10 per cent, and the product obtained by simple 

 methods contains 50 parts per 100 of resins, which prohibits its being vul- 

 canized. The product can be freed from the resins only by costly machinery, 

 which the quality of the rubber does not appear to justify. 



A comparison of the various processes of preserving timber, G. B. Shipley 

 {Engin. Neics, 62 (1909), No. 16, pp. .396-JfOO, figs. 2).— This paper consists of 

 a comparison of the Burnettiziug, Wellhouse, absorption, full cell creosote, 

 Rueping, Lowry and Card processes for preserving timber, together with a dis- 

 cussion of the selection of process, the required mechanical equipment, piling, 

 shipment of treated wood, estimated cost of treatment, capacity and costs of 

 plants. Descriptions are also given of 2 modern plants. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Report of the botanist for 1908, G. P. Clinton (Connecticut State 8ta. Rpt. 

 1907-8, pt. 12, pp. S.'f9-907, pis. 16). — General notes are given on a number of 

 plant diseases previously reported, as well as observations on others less well 

 known, and discussions of investigations on peach yellows, chestnut bark disease, 

 and artificial cultures of Phytophthora with special reference to the formation 

 of oospores. 



The general relation of weather conditions to plant diseases is discussed at 

 some length, after which notes are given on the occurrence of the tecidial stage 

 of Gyninosporangiiim macropus on the fruit of the apple, the presence of downy 

 mildew of grapes on the ripening fruit, the abundance and injurious character 

 of bacterial spot of peaches, a collar girdle and root injury of peaches, due in 

 the author's estimation to winter injury, and infectious chlorosis of tomatoes. 



Among the diseases not previously reported, accounts are given of smoke and 

 gas injury to asparagus, chlorosis of beans, dry weather injury to dahlias, 

 damping-off of beet seedlings, bacterial spot of larkspur, a disease of the com- 

 mon white lily that is possibly of bacterial origin, chlorosis of muskmelons that 

 is possibly infectious, and limb gall of oaks which is thought to be of bacterial 

 origin. 



In the discussion of investigations of peach yellows and so-ealled yellows, at- 

 tention is called to the fact that a number of different forms of injury are fre- 

 quently grouped together under this one form. These include the so-called yel- 

 lows, little peach, collar girdle, winter injury, drought injury, leaf fall, guiu- 

 mosis, etc. The author in the present article brings out the fact that many of 

 these diseases are largely the result of the unusual weather conditions that 

 have prevailed for some years. 



The relation of weather to peach diseases is discussed, considerable winter 

 injury being reported following the winters of 1902, 190.3, and 1904. In ]907 

 and 1908 severe droughts occurred in Connecticut, and after the drought of 1907, 

 moist autumn weather prevailed, setting up late growth of the dormant buds. 

 Several theories regarding the causes of yellows are discussed at some length, 

 but the author thinks that as winter injuries and yellows apparently come at 

 irregular periods and seem to be associated, considerable of the loss attributed 

 to the disease is really the result of unfavorable weather conditions. 



The chestnut bark disease, attributed by Murrill and others to Dia port lie 

 parasitica, is discussed at some length, and its general distribution and its dis- 

 tribution in Connecticut are outlined. An attempt was made to determine 

 whether the disease was contagious by planting a number of healthy chestnut 

 trees among diseased trees, but so far no sign of the fungus has been found. 

 Attention is called to the fact that all the sprouts from the cut of 1906 were 



