1917] DISEASES OP PLANTS. 145 



of the timber encountered. Nevertheless, because of other advantages here dis- 

 cussed the Klaussner hypsometer was adopted for work on the project. 



Utilization and round-edge lumber, R. T, Fishek (Proc. Soe. Amer. For- 

 esters, 11 {1916), No. 4, pp. 386-393) .—An account of the close utilization of 

 saw timber in the woodlot region of central New England. 



The utilization of a tropical forest, G. P. Ahern (Proc. Soc. Amcr. For- 

 esters, 11 (1916), No. 1, pp. 17-26). — A paper on this subject delivered before 

 the Society of American Foresters, December 16, 1915. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Department of botany, A. V. Osmun (Massachusetts Sta. Rpt. 1915, pt. 1, pp. 

 62a-64a). — A brief account is given of investigations of plant diseases during 

 the year covered by this administrative report. 



The mosaic disease of sweet peas, ring spot of cauliflower caused by Mijcos- 

 phcerella hrassiccecola, and a leaf spot of digitalis due to an undetermined 

 species of Colletotrichum are reported as not having been previously observed 

 in the State. Notes are also given on the silver scurf, late blight, and Rhizoc- 

 tonia disease of potatoes, together with reports of diseases of a number of other 

 economic plants. The damage done by the late blight is said to have been es- 

 pecially heavy, but it was noticed that those fields repeatedly sprayed with 

 Bordeaux mixture showed little loss. 



Some culture experiments on the production of powdery scab of potato were 

 conducted in which plantings of infected tubers were made on the station plats 

 and on soil from these plats sent to Maine. No evidence of the powdery scab 

 was obtained from the station plantings, but the disease did develop on the soil 

 sent to Maine. The results are thought to indicate that climate plays an im- 

 portant part in the distribution of this disease. 



Heavy losses to tobacco growers in the Connecticut Valley were reported as 

 resulting from some obscure troubles which are not yet determined but which 

 are believed to be related in some way to the nutrition of the plants. 



The white pine blister rust is said to occur in 8 of the 14 counties of the State, 

 and it has assumed serious proportions in western Massachusetts. Investiga- 

 tions of certain phases of the life history of the fungus with a view to obtain- 

 ing control have been inaugurated. 



Five undescribed species of Ravenelia, W. H. Long (Bot. Gas., 61 (1916), 

 No. 5, pp. lfn-Jf2Jt). — The author describes as new species R. roemeriance on 

 Acacia roemcriana at San Marcos, Tex.; R. morongice on Morongia tmcinata at 

 Austin, Tex. ; R. thomberiana on A. constricta paucispina at El Paso, Tex. ; 

 R. reticulata; on Calliandra reticulata at Divide, Ariz. ; and R. annulata on 

 Lysiloma latisiliqua at Miami, Fla. -^ 



Rhizoctonia solani in relation tc tbe " Mopopilz " and the "Vermehrungs- 

 pilz," B. M. DUGGAB (Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard., 3 (1916), No. 1, pp. 1-10).— 

 The author considers it safe to conclude that the seed bed fungus common in 

 Germany and France is identical with the damping-off fungus which has been 

 studied in this country since 1892, some contributions regarding which are 

 discussed. Evidence is offered in favor of the view that this fungus is identical 

 with that which causes the mopo disease of cinchona ascribed by Rant to 

 Moniliopsis aderholdii (E. S. R., 34, p. 749) and herein asserted to be the same^ 

 as R. solani. 



Cereal disease resistance (Kansas Sta. Rpt. 1915, p. i5).— Attention is called 

 to a method devised by this station to secure under field conditions the infec- 

 tion of various cereals. 



