DISEASES OF PLANTS. 451 



The pear scab (Fusicladium pirinum) is figured and described at 

 some length. The author states that his investigations on the pear 

 fruit have shown that the principal stroma of the fungus is undoubt- 

 edly subepidermal. The fungus is said to pass the winter in the bark 

 of twigs, producing in the spring a crop of spores to infect the young 

 branches, leaves, and fruit. A winter stage of the fungus is reported 

 from Germany as belonging to the genus Venturia. The possible iden- 

 tity of the pear and apple scab is briefly considered, but most of the 

 recent work is said to show that the two fungi are specifically differ- 

 ent. As is the case with other pear diseases, there is considerable 

 difference in the susceptibility of the different varieties. Three appli- 

 cations of Bordeaux mixture, the first made just before blossoming, 

 the second immediately after the petals have fallen, and the third 

 about 2 weeks later, are generally sufficient to prevent attacks of this 

 fungus. 



The pear blight or fire blight, which is due to Bacillus amylororus, is 

 figured and described at considerable length, the conclusions of the 

 author agreeing with those expressed by B. M. Waite (E. S. K... 8, p. 79(>). 



Under each of the diseases described the author gives a brief 

 bibliography. 



Studies on bean anthracnose, E. Gain (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 

 Paris, 127 (1S9S), No. 3, pp. 200-204). — The author has made a study of 

 the anthracnose of beans due to the fungus Colletotrichwm lindemu- 

 thianum, paying particular attention to the effect the fungus produces 

 upon the seed. He reports that anthracnosed seeds are less dense than 

 sound ones, the difference amounting with one variety to from 3.4 to 

 4.8 per cent and in others as much as 8 per cent. The germinative 

 ability of diseased seed was also studied, and it was found in a series of 

 experiments that 10 per cent of the seeds did not germinate, while only 

 4C per cent made viable plants, the sound seed producing 98 per ceut. 



Experiments were conducted in the laboratory and in the field to test 

 the propagation of the disease by seed and other means, and it was 

 found that it spread quite easily from diseased seed, the presence of 

 spores placed on a seed or in the soil. 



The conclusions, briefly summarized, show that diseased seeds are 

 easily recognized by their lessened specific gravity and lower germinat- 

 ing power. Plants from diseased seed are less resistent to subsequent 

 attacks and seldom develop equal to those from sound seed. The 

 distribution of the disease is easily effected through the soil or seed. 

 The author recommends that seed be carefuly hand-selected before 

 planting and the lighter seed thrown out. 



A cure for the lily disease, H. Byatt (Gard. Chron., 3. ser., 24 

 {1898), No. 003, p. 42). — The author gives an account of his attempts to 

 prevent the occurrence of this disease on Lilium candidum. The method 

 of treatment, which he claims has proved successful, consists in remov- 

 ing the bulbs from the ground and, after they had dried, sprinkling 



