DISEASES OF PLANTS. 247 



are given on plant diseases observed during tlie season of 1906. Among tlieni 

 were a number of diseases of the potato, orchard diseases, and diseases of 

 garden ci'ops. 



Observations on the diseases and injuries to wild and cultivated economic 

 plants in 1904, A. A. Yachevski {Ezheyh. Hviicd. Bolyez. t Povrvzhd. Knit. I 

 Dlkoriutt. Polcz. Rast., :i (lOOJf), pp. ii.9).— Compiled notes are given on nearly 

 2()0 species of parasitic* fungi and phanerogams that were observed on cereals, 

 forage and fodder crops, orchard and garden fruits, vegetaliles, forest trees, 

 ornamentals, etc. 



Can phosphates cause chlorosis? T. Takeuchi {Bui. Col. A{/r. Tokyo Imp. 

 Univ., 7 {1901), No. 3. pp. Jf25-.'i28) .—The author investigated the effect of 

 various phosphates when added to culture media to determine whether thej' 

 could cause chlorosis of plants. He found that there was no evidence of such 

 action. 



Millet smut (Ustilago panici miliacei) and its control, I. N. Trzhebinski 

 {Vyestnik Sakh. Promiiish., 1906, No. 10; abs. in Zhur. Opultn. Agroii. {Riiss. 

 Jour. Expt. Landw.), 8 {1901), No. 1, pp. 100, 101).— The spores adhering to 

 the seeds are successfully destroyed by soaking the latter in a solution con- 

 taining 0.5 per cent of copper sulphate and 0.25 per cent of foi-malin. — p. 



FIREMAN. 



The diseases of sugar beets in relation to their culture, M. Hollrung {Bl. 

 Ziickerriibenbau, IJf {1907), No. 11, pp. lUff-171). — A popular discussion is given 

 of the diseases of sugar beets, the prevalence of which depends upon conditions 

 of cultivation. The author divides the periods of beet growth into the seedling 

 stage, the period during which the roots are developing, and the time of making 

 and storing reserve materials. The especial diseases accompanying each phase 

 of growth are briefly described, and the importance of proper cultivation and 

 fertilization during the different stages is pointed out. 



The control of Texas root rot of cotton, C. L. Shear and (4. F. Miles ( T. *S'. 

 Dept. Ayr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 102, pp. 39-Jf2, fig. 1). — A description is given 

 of root rot of cotton due to a fungus which is referred to the gemis Ozonium. 

 In investigations carried on to control this disease, the application of fungicides 

 and fertilizers to the soil and selection have been undertaken without any great 

 promise of success. Based upon field and laboratory observations, the authors 

 concluded that a lack of proper aeration of the soil is a prominent factor in 

 favor of the development of the root fungus, and consequently a series of experi- 

 ments was planned in which deep plowing in the fall, deep spring plowing, and 

 spring subsoiling were compared. 



The results obtained were so remarkable that the authors recommend as an 

 efficient treatment deep fall plowing combined with a rotation of crops for 2 

 or 3 years previous to planting cotton on the land. The land should be plowed 

 to a depth of at least 7 in., and for this purpose disk plows are recommended. 

 In the experiments of the authors the plowing was done in December, and it is 

 believed that still better results would have been secured had the soil been 

 turned in November, thus giving a greater opportunity for aeration. 



Potato spraying experiments, L. R. Jones and N. J. Giddings {Vermont 

 Hta. Rpt. 1906, pp. 26-J-269). — In contimiation of the station's policy of conduct- 

 ing spraying experiments with potatoes for a number of years, the trials during 

 the year covered by the rejMjrt were conducted with two aims, (1) to learn the 

 gain from the use of Bordeaux mixture and (2) the relative values of a number 

 of commercial fungicides. 



The tests of the gains from the use of Bordeaux mixture were in continuation 

 of experiments that have been in progress for 16 years. Potatoes grown on 

 sandy loam sprayed with Bordeaux mixture gave an increase of 28 per cent in 



