48 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. a« 



The use of Bordeaux mixture for the mahali disease of areca uuts, due to 

 Phytophthora oiiinivora arecw, is being extended. A fungus (probably an 

 Ephelis) on paddy, wliichi transforms tlie loose panicle into a solid carbona- 

 ceous spike, has been brought into pure culture, and a study of the fungus has 

 been begun. A fruit rot of chillies caused by Verinicularia capsici is under 

 investigation. A bacterium isolated from black rot of plantain had no effect 

 on young plantain shoots. 



Septoria on barley, A. 6. Johnson {Abs. in Phytopatlwlogy, 6 (1916), No. 1, 

 p. 117). — The author notes the occurrence of Septoria on a number of varieties 

 of barley at different localities in North and South Dakota and ^Minnesota. 

 The fungus chiefly attacks the leaf blade, the attacked portion becoming yellow- 

 ish or yellowish brown and the invaded tissue being killed. The sheaths are 

 less frequently attacked. The fungus is believed to be the same as that known 

 to occur on wheat and to be widely distributed in this country and generally 

 referred to S. graminum. 



Occurrence of yellow leaf rust of wheat (Puccinia glumarum) in the Salt 

 Lake Valley, Utah, P. J. O'Gaka {Science, n. ser., .',4 (1916), No. 1139, pp. 610, 

 611 ) . — The author describes a rust as having been observed on June 23, 1915, in 

 several wheat fields north and west of Ogden, Utah. Subsequent examination 

 showed the rust to be P. glumuruni, which has only recently been described as 

 occurring in this country. The infection as noted in the Salt Lake Valley is 

 said to have been rather severe and of considerable economic importance. 



Cordyceps clavicipitis n. sp., parasitic on ergot, K. Oetegren {Svenak Bot. 

 Tidskr., 10 {1916), No. 1, pp. 53-58, figs. 3). — The author describes C. clavi- 

 cipitis n. sp., which is claimed to be parasitic on ergot {Claviceps purpurea). 



Calif ornian thistle rust, A. H. Cockayne {Neio Zeal. Dcpt. Agr. Rpt. 23 {1915), 

 p. 109). — It is stated that a considerable amount of experimentation with Cali- 

 fornian thistle rust {Puccinia suaveolens) has been carried out, the results of 

 which indicate that this rust may become a valuable instrument in controlling 

 the weed in permanent pastures. The best results are obtained by using mate- 

 rial which has been taken from plants recently attacked in preference to that 

 from plants affected the previous year, the latter attaining only a temporary 

 development. 



A study on the dry rot disease of maize caused by Diplodia zeae, P. A. van 

 DEB BiJL (Byl) {Union So. Africa Dcpt. Agr. Sci. Bui. 7 {1916), pp. 60, pl8. 

 15). — This investigation, which was undertaken primarily to test the effect of 

 diseased maize when fed to stock, deals somewhat extensively also with the biol- 

 ogy, pathology, and control of the disease of maize caused by D. zece. The two 

 parts of the paper deal respectively with the fungus in relation to the host and 

 the fungus in the laboratory. Inoculation apparently takes place through the 

 silks but possibly also through the roots. No ear to ear infection was obtained. 

 The spores do not appear to be very resistant. 



It is recommended that crop rotation be accompanied by destruction of all 

 ciiseased material prior to the formation of pycnidia. It is thought that the 

 fiuigus may fruit naturally on debris other than that of maize in the field. 

 Further experiments are needed regarding the ways in which the disease is 

 spread. 



Powdery scab of potato, G. P. Clinton {Connecticut State Sta. Rpt. 1915, 

 pt. 6, pp. 463-469). — On account of the occurrence of the powdery scab of potato 

 in Maine and the possibility of its being introduced into Connecticut, the 

 author, with his assistants, made an inspection of seed potatoes with the result 

 that the powdery scab was found only at three places, in all of which the 

 Infection occurred on Maine-grown tubers. 



