342 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



roferenco to the manner of infection in tlie Diplodia disease of corn. Their 

 experiments seem to indicate that the fnngus occnrs in the soil and that nnder 

 certain conditions it may infect the growing plants. 



The question is raised as to whether this Diplodia may not be the cause of 

 the so-called cornstalk disease prevalent among cattle in the AVest and possibly 

 also responsible for the disease pellagra that has been reported in the southern 

 part of the T'nited States during the past three years. 



A disease of cotton, G. Fron (Bill Trimest. »Soe. Mycol. France, 25 (1909), 

 No. 1 ))!>• 66-6S, fig. i).— An account is given of a fungus disease of cotton 

 which is said to prevail in the western part of Africa, particularly in Dahomey, 

 where it has caused considerable loss. 



The disease is characterized by the browning and drying of the leaves and 

 the arresting of the growth of the bolls, which never mature nor open. It 

 spreads with great rapidity through the fields, and an examination of specimens 

 showed that the fungus is localized on the branches and extends but slightly 

 on the older stems. The terminal branches and petioles seem to suffer the most. 

 Upon these canker-like growths are formed. A study of the material showed 

 that the disease is due to a species of Phoma. to which the name P. roumii n. 

 sp. is given. 



Fungus diseases of vegetables, J. W. Eastham and J. E. Howitt {Ontario 

 Dcpt. Ayr. Bui. Ill, pp- 37-62, figs. 11). — Popular descriptions are given of a 

 number of the more common fungus diseases of vegetables, together with sug- 

 gestions for their control. The arrangement is according to the host plants. 



Directions are also given for the preparation and application of a number of 

 the better known fungicides and insecticides. 



Report of assistant in botany, R. Y. Winters {Florida Sta. Rpt. 1908, pp. 

 XCVll-CIV). — Brief reports are given on celery diseases, the bacterial disease 

 of lettuce and the lettuce drop, with suggestions for their control. 



It is popularly believed that certain fertilizers influence the presence of the 

 disease of" celery known as black heart, and a series of experiments was carried 

 on in which 36 formulas of fertilizers were tested. Plats receiving nitrate of 

 soda and kainit wei"e uniformly, severely attacked by the disease, and those 

 plats which received fertilizers consisting of bone meal, fish scrap, and high- 

 grade sulphate of potash gave best results. As a result of the studies, it seems 

 that some physical weakness of the plant makes it susceptible to infection and 

 that certain forms of fertilizers produce plants more susceptible to this disease 

 than others. 



Foot rot {Sclerotinia lihertiana), which it is said has proved very destructive 

 to celery, and the celery blight {Ccrconpora apii) are described. 



[Notes on some diseases of cabbage, lettuce, roselle, rose, and water oak], 

 H. S. Fawcett {Florida Sta. Rpt. 1908, pp. LXXV-LXXXIX, pis. J).— An 

 account is given of the black rot of cabbage, due to Pscudonionas campcstris, 

 including a general description of the disease and suggestions for its prevention. 



Attention is called to a bacterial rot of lettuce, which though quite distinct 

 from the lettuce drop, due to Sclerotinia lihertiana. is often associat(>d with that 

 disease. The author isolated the organism causing the disease, cultivated it in 

 various media, and carried on a series of inoculation experiments resulting in 

 the production of typical forms of the bacterial disease. 



It is stated that other bacterial diseases of lettuce have been reported, and 

 that one, described by Yoglino (E. S. R., 16, p. 1093), was due to an organism 

 to which he gave the name Bacillus lactucce. The bacterium causing the disease 

 in Florida has not been fully identified with this organism. 



The rose disease described is a mildew {Sphwrntheca pannosa), for the pre- 

 vention of \Aliich spraying with potassium sulphid solution is recommended. 



