1917] DISEASES OF PLANTS. 247 



Barberry and cereal rust in Denmark, J. Lind (Tidsskr. Planteavl, 22 

 (1915), No. 5, pp. 767-780 ) .—The author states that the enactment 11 years 

 previously of the law against barberry has resulted in the gradual decrease of 

 the cereal rust (Puccinia gramitiis) in Denmark. In 1914 it was to be found 

 only in weakened outbreaks, occurring late in the fall, in regions where the bar- 

 berry still persists. 



Puccinia on spring wheat, N. Litvinov (Trudy Bwro Prikl. Bot. (Bui. Appl. 

 Bot.), 8 (1915), No. 6, pp. 80S-8i5 ) .—Observations during 1911 to 1914 on 

 Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum, T. durum, and T. vulgare are said to have 

 proved the existence of races of wheat designated as showing in some cases 

 important differences as regards resistance to P. glumarum and P. triticina. 



Further results in controlling certain barley diseases by seed treatment, 

 A. G. Johnson (Abs. in Phytopathology, 6 (1916), No. 1, p. 98). — A summary is 

 given of experiments on seed treatment of barley for control of the stripe dis- 

 ease (Helniinthosporium graimneum) and loose and covered smuts (Ustilago 

 nuda and U. hordei). Various fungicides, including copper sulphate solution, 

 copper sulphate and salt, Bordeaux mixture, formaldehyde, corrosive subli- 

 mate, and hot water, were tested. 



Practically all the treatments greatly reduced and a number eliminated the 

 loose smut, as well as the covered smut. The stripe disease was reduced by a 

 number of the treatments, and was entirely eliminated by formaldehyde of vary- 

 ing strength when the seed was soaked for three, two, and one hours at tem- 

 peratures of 20, 10, and 25° C. (68, 50, and 77° F.), respectively. Aside from 

 the formaldehyde treatment, the copper sulphate and salt mixture gave the best 

 results. 



Preliminary investigation on the deterioration of maize infected with 

 Diplodia zeae, P. A. van der Bijl (Byl) (Trans. Roy. Soc. So. Africa, Jf (1915), 

 pt. 3, pp. 231-239, figs. 2). — From a preliminary study of maize inoculated with 

 D. zcw, the author concludes that the diseased grain has a higher acidity than 

 healthy grain. It is stated that infected maize gives Ori's reaction distinctly, 

 while healthy maize gives only a slight effervescence therewith. The enzym 

 which causes the effervescence with hydrogen peroxid may be destroyed by a 

 temperature of 60° C. (140° F.), causing failure of the test, although it is 

 thought that it may be developed into one of considerable delicacy. At present, 

 however, the acidity determinations appear to be more useful for practical 

 purposes. 



Preliminary notes on an heretofore unreported leaf disease of rice, G. H. 

 Godfrey (Abs. in Phytopathology, 6 (1916), No. 1, p. 97).— The author reports 

 observing early in the fall of 1914 a peculiar leaf affection of the plants in 

 the rice fields of Louisiana and Texas. The disease somewhat resembles ordi- 

 nary black rust of cereals, and an attempt has been made to produce the 

 fruiting bodies of the organism in cultures, but without results. On cultures in 

 agar plates, black sclerotia-like bodies were produced which seem to develop 

 directly upon mycelia growing out of the stromatic mass in the leaf. Inocula- 

 tions with fresh cultures of these sclerotia-like bodies have produced definite 

 lesions, but it is said that they have not yet produced the appearance of gen- 

 eral infection which occurs on the leaf in nature. The identity of the organism 

 and the conditions under which the infection takes place remain to be de- 

 termined. 



Leaf smut of timothy, G. A. Osner (Abs. in Phytopathology, 6 (1916), No. 1, 

 pp. 103, 104). — -A- leaf smut of timothy, caused by Ustilago strive for mis, is re- 

 ported as occurring abundantly in the timothy fields of New York and northern 

 Indiana during the past two seasons. Inoculation experiments indicate that the 

 infection takes place only during the blossoming of the plant. Seed treatment 



