DISEA.SES OF PLANTS. 763 



been nearly destroyed by smut the preceding year. Untreated seed 

 produced 10.2 per cent of smutted heads, seed treated with Ceres 

 pulver, 2.7 per cent, and seed treated with hot water, 0.00075 per cent. 

 The author is inclined to believe the amount of water recommended 

 for dissolving the Ceres pulver (3.2 oz. in 10 qt.) is insufficient to sat- 

 urate the hulls of the oats, and that the use of a little more water 

 might have made the treatment more effective. 



Diseases of plants, A. P. Anderson (South Carolina Sta. Bui. 36, pp. 17, figs. 

 14). — A brief popular description is given of the different classes of plant diseases 

 due to fungi, bacteria, or other causes. 



Disease in vegetable life, W. T. Sedgwick (Florists' Exchange, 11 (1899), No. 3, 

 p. 56). — Abstract of a lecture discussing the lines along which prevention of disease 

 and promotion of health must work. These are stated to be improvement of the 

 mechanism and control and amelioration of the environment, the latter eventually 

 attended by improvement of the organism itself considered as a physical mechanism. 



Report of the department of botany, L. H. Henderson (Idaho sta. Bui. 15, 

 pp. 151-162).— The author briefly reviews the work of the year and gives notes ou the 

 occurrence of and approved remedies for a number of orchard and garden diseases 

 which have appeared iu Idaho. 



The leaf-spot disease of apple (Phyllosticta pirina), and several unrelated 

 forms occurring therewith, W. B. Alwood (Proc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 47 (189S), 

 p. 413). — The author gives notes on the common occurrence and life cycle of this 

 fungus and mentions the occurrence therewith of 3 apparently unrelated forms, 

 viz., Sphairopsis malorum, Hendersonia malt, and an undetermined species. 



The apple mildew in the Tyrol, P. Magnus (Ber. Deut. Bot. Gesell., 16 (189S), 

 No. 9, pp. 331-334, pi. 1). — Notes the occurrence of Spharotheca mail on the apple in 

 the Tyrol. It had associated with it I'odosphwra sp. 



Monilia fructigena and the Monilia disease of fruit trees, C. Weiimer (Brr. 

 Deut. Bot. Gesell., 16 (1S9S), No. 9, pp. 298-307, pi. 1).—A sketch is given of the 

 distribution, history, characters of the fungus, nature of its attack, and means for 

 combating the Monilia disease of apple, pear, cherry, etc. 



Report on the investigation of the disease of the roots of the mulberry tree 

 on the Caucasus, A. Yachevski (Selsk. Khoz. i Lyesov., 190 (189S), No. 9, pp. 

 653-660). — According to the author, Demataphora necatrix is the cause of the disease 

 of the mulberry tree in the Caucasus. 



On the appearance of, and methods for combating, grape injuries in Germany 

 in 1896, Moritz (Abs. in Centbl. Bait. u. Par., 2. AM., 4 (1S9S), No. "22pp. 842,843).— 

 The first part of this work discusses the effect of atmospheric conditions, such as late 

 frosts and hailstorms, and suggests how to overcome their injury. 



In the second part of the treatise the author mentions the principal troublesome 

 insects of the grape. Those especially described are Conchylis ambiguella, Ilhynchites 

 bebuleti, Otiorhynchus Ugustici, Eumolopus vitis, the cankerworm, Melolontha vulgaris, 

 Phytoptus vitis, and Tetranychus telarius. Among the diseases described and for which 

 remedies are suggested the following fungi are noted: Peronospora viticola. O'idium 

 tiicleri, Sphaceloma ampelinum, Dematophora necatrix, Botrytis cinerea, and several 

 other diseases of unknown origin. 



Investigations on the life history of rust fungi, E. Fischer (Kntwiehelungs- 

 geschichtliche Untcrsiichungen iiber Rostpilze. Bern: K.J. Wyss, 1S9S, pp. X + 121, pis. 

 2, figs. 16). — This is a preliminary contribution to a monograph of the Swiss Uredi- 

 nese and was published by Siveiz. Naturforsch. Gesellschaft. 



Descriptions of American Uredineae, II, J. C. Arthur and E. W. D. Holway (Bui. 

 Lab. Nat. Hist. Univ. Iowa, 4 (1S9S), No. 4, pp. 377-402, pis. 11).— ■Descriptions and 

 notes are given of a number of species of Uredineaj that have been distributed by 

 the authors. 



