DISEASES OF PLANTS. 447 



Experiments with peas (pp. 322-324). — In continuation of the experi- 

 ments reported in 1896 (E. S. R., 9, p. 656), applications to the soil 

 of sulphur, corrosive sublimate, carbonate of lime, and copper sul- 

 phate were tested for the prevention of blight and mildew of this 

 plant. The largest yield was obtained where the soil was treated with 

 corrosive sublimate and carbonate of lime. On a second crop, 4 

 fungicides were tested with somewhat inconclusive results. 



Experiments with carrots (pp. 325, 326). — Six varieties of carrots were 

 tested to ascertain their relative resistance to blight. ISTo spraying was 

 given the plants and no estimate was made to determine the relative 

 market value of the different sorts. Of the 6 varieties tested the 

 Dan vers Half Long proved the most resistant. 



Experiments with celery (p. 327). — The carrots mentioned in the pre- 

 vious paragraph were followed by celery, the desire being to ascertain 

 whether these allied plants would be subject to the same diseases. The 

 celery was sprayed with different fungicides, in all 7 applications being 

 given, but the plants being remarkably free from celery blight the rela- 

 tive value of the fungicides was not determined. 



Experiments with beets (pp. 327-334). — Experiments have been con- 

 tinued for a number of seasons for the control by the use of fungicides 

 of beet-leaf spot (Cercospora beticola). The seed was sown April 19 and 

 the plants were sprayed when little more than the first leaves were 

 developed, in all 10 applications being given during the season. The 

 leaf spot was first noted the last week in June and in the check plats 

 it increased rapidly. Where the hydrate solution was used the disease 

 developed somewhat slower than in the checks, but plants sprayed 

 with this fungicide suffered much more severely than those which 

 received the different Bordeaux solutions. The different kinds of Bor- 

 deaux mixture showed no marked differences. In the experiments with 

 the second crop of beets, all the fungicides except Bordeaux mixture 

 burned the foliage of the young plants to some extent, but as in the 

 previous year's test no Cercospora appeared. The effect of weed growth 

 on beet production was tested. In this experiment 8 oz. of 30 differ- 

 ent kinds of weed seeds were sown over a plat of beets 138 ft. long 

 and 11 ft. wide. Different portions of the plat were subjected to differ- 

 ent treatments, one receiving no cultural attention while the others 

 received 3, 5, and 7 hoeings, respectively. The yield of beets was almost 

 in proportion to the amount of attention given the plats. Concerning 

 the growth of the weeds it is said that in some cases the ground was 

 so thoroughly covered by them that many of the weeds were wilted 

 and crowded out. 



Experiments with ornamental plants (pp. 334-339). — Fungicides were 

 tested for the prevention of diseases of the following plants: Violets, 

 China asters, pinks, nasturtiums, mignonette, phlox, sweet peas, gladi- 

 olus, cannas, dahlias, ampelopsis, hibiscus, hollyhocks, red bud, and 

 peony. In the case of the China asters the principal trouble is a rust 

 due to Coleosporium sp. The disease did not appear to any great extent 



