346 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



tilizer studies showed tbat these agents did not produce the trouble described 

 and that the injury must have been caused by the high temperature at and 

 following the period of germination. 



As a practical means for preventing injury due to this cause the authors 

 recommend the late seeding of winter grains and the early seeding of spring 

 cereals. 



The alteration of forage by parasitic plants, A. Porcherel {Jour. Med. Yet. 

 ct Zootcvh.. .'j8 (1907). March, pp. l.j.',-166. figs. 6; June, pp. 346-359). — A 

 resume is given of literature relating to the changes induced by rusts, smuts, 

 ergots, molds, etc., on various forage j)lants. and the effect produced on animals 

 by feeding the infected forage. 



Some investigations on the loose smut of cereals, O. Appel and G. Gassner 

 (Mitt. K. Biol. Anst. Land u. Forstic, 1907, Xo. J,, pp. 9-12, pg 1). — The rela- 

 tion between the germination of cereals and the infection b.v smut is discussed. 

 The authors claim that the more rapidly the cereal germinates the less subject 

 it is to attacks of smut through seedling infection. The partial resistance of 

 certain varieties of cereals to smut is due, in the authors' opinion, to the fact 

 that the seed germinates and develops the seedling stage more ciuickly than 

 others that are quite susceptible to disease. 



A smut of tall oat grass, O. Appel and G. Gassnek (Mitt. K. Biol. Anst. Land 

 u. Forstu-.. 1907, Xo. .'/, pp. 12, 13). — The authors describe Vstilago dura n. sp. 

 as occurring on tall oat grass. The fungus resembles I . percnnans, but differs 

 fi'om that species in imi)ortant characters. 



Changes in the head of square head wheat due to smut, O. Appel (Mitt. K. 

 Biol. Anst. Land u. Forstic, 1007, A'o. Jf. p. 12, fig. 1). — On account of the reported 

 effect of smut on square head wheat the author conducted some experiments in 

 which alternate plats were seeded with infected and clean seed. The resulting 

 crop showed profound changes in the character of the wheat heads, the normal 

 square head being changed into an elongated, narrow, loosely spiked head. 

 Where there was no infection the normal type of heads prevailed. The change 

 is attributed to the smut, and it is said that frost or other injury will produce 

 similar modifications. 



Treatment of wheat for loose and stinking smuts {OkJuJioina Sta. Rpt. 

 1907, pp. 16-19) . — Directions are given for the treatment of wheat for the pre- 

 vention of loose and stinking smuts, the information being drawn largely from 

 Farmers' Bulletins of this Department (E. S. R., 10, p. 154; 17, p. 1078). 



Notes on Fusarium, O. Appel (Mitt. K. Biol. Anst. Land u. Forstir., 1907, No. 

 4, pp. 31-33, fig. 1). — The author describes the injury to various species of Le- 

 guminosse by attacks of Fusarium, also a disease of cereals, known as the foot 

 disease, which is attributed to a species of Fusarium, and the action of these 

 fungi in destroying cellulose. 



Notes on clover canker, R. Aderhold (Mitt. K. Biol. Anst. Land ii. Forstio., 

 1007, A'o. 4, pp. 21-24, figs. 2). — The clover fields of parts of Germany are said 

 to be frequently attacked by a disease which is variously referred to as canker 

 or winterkilling, etc., but an examination of the plants showed that it was due 

 mainly to Sclerotinia trifoliorum. The effect of the fungus on the host plant is 

 described and notes given on the life history of the parasite. Experiments have 

 been inaugurated to test the susceptibilty of various varieties of red. alsike, 

 white, and crimson clover, and alfalfa to this fungus. 



Clover sickness (.Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], I4 (1907), No. 4, pp. 223-227, figs. 

 2). — Clover sickness is said to be due largely to attacks of nematodes (Ttjlen- 

 chus derastatrix) or the fungus Sclerotinia trifoliorum. Evidence is offered to 

 show that the nematodes are a primary cause of clover sickness, and that in ad- 



