DISEASES OF PLANTS. 445 



Experiments with tomatoes (pp. 286-291). — In 1897, 7 varieties of toma- 

 toes were sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, soda-Bordeaux, potash- 

 Bordeaux, and hydrate, the idea being to test the fungicides for the 

 prevention of the various diseases to which this plant is subject. The 

 only disease observed to affect the foliage of tomato plants was Sep- 

 toria tycopersici, while a few fruits were attacked by Gloeosporium 

 phomoides. The plants which had received Bordeaux mixture were 

 practically free from disease. The yield of fruit is tabulated, from 

 which it appears that there was a marked falling off in the amount of 

 fruits produced by the plants sprayed with soda-Bordeaux and hydrate. 

 Both fungicides burned the foliage somewhat, but it was not thought 

 sufficient to do serious harm. The least productive portion of the plat 

 was that which was shaded; while, on the other hand, the shaded rows 

 suffered very little from the blight. 



Experiments frith Lime l>e«ns (pp. 292-299). — Experiments conducted 

 with dwarf Lima beans showed there was very little blight in any part 

 of the plat, and no conclusions could be drawn from the experiments. 

 The origin of the dwarf Limas and their description are given. Brief 

 notes are appended on the mildew of Lima beans, in which it is stated 

 that the mildew was worst on plants growing upon rich low land where 

 the same crop had been grown the previous year. It would seem best 

 for Lima beans to be planted on high ground, as early as possible, and 

 they should not immediately follow a similar crop. 



Experiments with onions (pp. 300-302). — The author reports the occur- 

 rence during 1897 of the smut fungus of onions (Uroeystis cepulce). 

 From observations made in the field it would seem that there are 

 marked differences in the susceptibility of varieties to this disease, 

 the tender white sorts being more inclined to the disease than the yel- 

 low ones. Experiments conducted with onions in new fields, the plants 

 having been sprayed times, showed that there was very little smut 

 anywhere, even the check rows being free from the disease. An experi- 

 ment in preventing infection through the seed was made with seed 

 soaked in hot water (135° F.) for 15 minutes, soaked in corrosive subli- 

 mate, or rolled in sulphur, and in adding corrosive sublimate and 

 sulphur to the soil. The plants came up fairly well in all boxes except 

 where the seed was treated with hot water, in which case there was a 

 complete failure. There was no smut in any instance; the experiment, 

 therefore, was without result. 



Results with spinach (pp. 302,303). — Experiments were conducted 

 with a number of varieties of spinach for the prevention of an unde- 

 termined disease which causes a loss of the green color and the final 

 dwarfing of the young plants. The plants grown in the shade were 

 larger and remained green longer than those exposed to the sun, and 

 it is probable this crop can be grown throughout the season with 

 profit where some protection, as partial shade, is provided. Notes are 

 given on the occurrence of a Cercospora on the leaves of spinach, 



