DISEASES OF PLA^^TS. 47 



Treatment of grain for smut, J. Buchanan (Aim. Rpt. Ontatno Ayr. Col. 

 and E.r/if. Farm. .32 (1906), pp. 176-178). — A series of experiments to prevent 

 the occurrence (if smut was carried on with varieties o'f wheat and oats which 

 were treated I),v immersion in dikite formalin, sprinlvling witli dilute formalin, 

 immersion in hot water, immersion in dilute copper-sulphate solution for 12 

 hours, innnersion in a strong solution of i)<)tassium sulphid foi* 2 hours, and 

 sprinkling with a copper-sulphate solution. All of these treatments were more 

 or less efticient in reducing smut in both the winter wheat and oats, the sprin- 

 kling with copper si:lphate and immersion in potassium-sulphid solutions being 

 the least efficient. 



Another series of experiments was conducted with 2 varieties of oats, the seeds 

 of which ranged from 1 to H years old. the object being to ascertain whether the 

 smut spores would lose their vitality sooner than the oats. Thi^ experiment has 

 been under way for 3 years, and up to the present has failed to show that the 

 smut has lost its vitality to any appreciable extent. 



For 2 years the author has endeavored to pi'event smut on barley by treating 

 the seed with formalin at the rate of 1 pt. to 42 gal. of water, but withoiit 

 success. 



The stinking smut of wheat (Bol. ^ec. Fomento [Mexico], 2. ser., 6 (1907). 

 -Yo. 8. pp. 63o-6-51). — A brief i"epoi"t is given on an inquiry made by the agri- 

 cultural experiment station at Ciudad Juarez relating to the distribution and 

 amount of injury caused by the stinking smut of wheat. For its prevention the 

 treatment of the seed wheat by soaking in copper-sulphate solution, after which 

 the grain is dipped in strong lime water, is recommended. 



Investigations on the alteration of grain and fodder, Beocq-Rousseu 

 (Bui. Soc. Xat. Agr. France, 67 (1907). Xo. .3, pp. 271-280).— In a note by G. 

 Bonnier to the Society of Agriculture of France a resume is given of investiga- 

 tions on an important cause of changes in grain and forage. Grain and forage 

 were found to be attacked by a species of Sti'eptothrix, for which the name 

 S. (lassonviUei is proposed. The changes caused by the fungus are described at 

 some length, and it is said its presence may be recognized by the peculiar 'musty 

 odor which it gives to both grain and forage. 



By heating grain to 50° C. the micro-organisms are said to be destroyed and 

 the characteristic odor removed. A form of apparatus designed for the rapid 

 treatment of the grain is described. 



The formation of intumescences on potato plants, Gertrude K. Douglas 

 (Hot. Gas., JfS (1907), Xo. .',, pp. 233-250, figs. 9).— While experiments were 

 being carried on in the botanical laboratory of the Cornell University to study 

 the relationship of a soil fungus to potato plants, a number of young shoots 

 were covered with bell jars and in a few days intumescences were formed in 

 great numbers. 



The presence of these outgrowths led to an investigation of the subject, and 

 young plants were covered with bell jars and their roots supplied every day 

 with an abundance of water. In from 2 to 5 days the intumescences were 

 formed, usually appearing on the upper surface of the leaf, but in some cases 

 occurring on the lower side also and scattered profusely over the upper part of 

 the stem. To the naked eye the.v appeared as small greenish-yellow dots, pro- 

 .lecting slightly from the surface of the leaf. These rapidly developed in size, 

 became lighter yellow, hemispherical, smooth, and glossy, and after about 24 

 hours they became whitish, roughened, and projected prominently from the sur- 

 face. These outgrowths lasted but a short time, and in a day or two they had 

 collapsed and become dry and blackened. A cross-section of the leaf showed 

 that they were due to the hypertrophy of the cells underlying the epidermis. 



