8G4 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



to be by far the most destructive. This fungus attacks the older trees, 

 entering through a knot and causing disintegration of the heartwood. 

 The mycelium dissolves portions of the wood fibers, at lirst changing 

 them to cellulose. After a time the solution stops and the wood then 

 appears full of holes with a white lining, the holes separated by lamellae 

 of comparatively sound wood. The wood not destroyed seems to be 

 protected against the attacks of fungus ferments by some substance 

 which infiltrates into the wood cells. The author thinks that in the 

 case of pines attacked by this fungus, a compound allied to the humus 

 compounds, is present which gives the wood a brown color. 



Another fungus, Trametcs radiciperda, enters the trees through the 

 roots; the mycelium passes up into the trunk, causing decay similar to 

 that described above. This disease has been found destroying numer- 

 ous trees of Finns palustris and F. echinata. 



Plant diseases observed in Denmark during 1896, E. RoSTRTJP (Tidsslcr. Landbr. 

 Planteavl, 4(1897); dbs. in Ztschr. Pflanzenkmnk., S (1S98), No. 5, pp. 278-2S0).— Notes 

 are given on the principal fungus .and insect injuries to cereals, grasses, leguminous 

 forage plants and garden crops. 



Plant diseases appearing in Italy in the year 1897, G. BRIOSI (Bol. Not. Agr., 

 19 (1897), pp. 124-133; abs. in Ztechr. Pflanzenkrank., S (1S9S), No. 5, pp. 273-277).— 

 Notes are given on the more important fungus diseases observed during the period 

 indicated. 



Sensitiveness of certain parasites to the acid juices of the host plants, E. F. 

 Smith (Bol. Gaz., 27 (1S99), No. 2, pp. 124, 125).— -In a brief abstract the author states 

 that the comparatively slow progress of Pseudomonas campestris, P. phaseoli, and 

 P. hyacinth i when inoculated into the host plants, even in enormous numbers, led to 

 the belief that the restraining influence must be the acid juices of the cabbage, bean, 

 and hyacinth. In studying these organisms all the fluids in which they were grown 

 were tested, being titrated with caustic soda and phenolphthalein, so that the exact 

 grade of acidity which retarded growth was definitely known. The full results of 

 the author's experiments are promised in another paper. 



The plant parasites of coffee, G. Dklacroix (Per. Cult. Coloniales, 4(1899), No. 

 21, pp. 34-38). — The parasites are said to be several species of Loranthus, an alga, 

 Cephaleuros coffea:, a number of Ascomycetes, and 2 species of Hemileia. 



Concerning the symbiotic mycoplasmic theory in grain rusts, H. L. Bolley 

 (Centbl. Bakt. it. Par., 2. Alt., 4 (189S), No. 23, pp. 855-859; 24,pp. 8S7-S97; 25, pp. 913- 

 919, Jigs. 6). — This paper was presented to Section F of the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science at the Boston meeting August, 1898. An abstract 

 of the paper is given in the proceedings of the Association (E. S. R., 10, p. 653). 

 The author believes that Eriksson's theory (E. S. R., 9, p. 118) is not well founded, 

 and that the infection is by the distribution of uredo spores by the winds. 



Some important wheat diseases, C. O. Townsend (Maryland Sla. Bui. 5S, pp. 

 123-127). — Popular notes arc given of the wheat smuts and rusts with suggested 

 remedies. Tbe author states that in certain parts of the State a Septoria (probably 

 S. glumarium) is more or less prevalent. 



Red rust of wheat, II. Garman (Kentucky Sla. Bui. 77, pp. 121, 122). — A brief 

 popular summary is given of a paper presented by the author for a farmers' institute 

 at Shelhyville, Kentucky, in which is summarized the present state of information 

 relative to the cause of grain rusts. 



The asparagus rust (Bui. Soc. Cent. Hort. Seine- In ferieure, 2.ser., 2 (1SDS), No. 5, 

 pp. 3G1-363). — Notes the presence and injurious effects of Puccinia asparagi and 



