450 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD, [Vol. 30 



ergot, two otlier fungi, Fusarium Jwtrrosporum and Cladosporium sp., are re- 

 ported as iafecting the heads of P. dtlaiatum,. A brief account is given of 

 experiments in feeding the sclerotia, as well as extracts made from the fungus, 

 to guinea pigs, from which it appears that only the old sclerotia are poisonous 

 and that they retain this property for at least 10 months. 



Mowing pastures as often as the sclerotia become abundant is said to be an 

 effective method of preventing poisoning, and this measure is of practical value 

 in most places. 



Neocosmospora vasinfecta on potato and adzuki bean, F. A. Wolf {Phyto- 

 pathology, 6 {1916), No. 3, p. 301). — The author adds to the knov?n host species 

 of this fungus potatoes and adzuki beans, the organism found upon these plants 

 agreeing morphologically with that recently described from peanuts (E. S. R., 

 32, p. 546). 



Pleosphserulina on alfaKa, F. R. Jones {Phytopathology, 6 {1916), No. S, 

 pp. 299, 300). — On account of a publication by Melchers (E. S. R., 33, p. 848) 

 relating to a new alfalfa leaf spot in America, the author was led to contribute 

 certain facts regarding the distribution, cultural habits, and taxonomy of the 

 fungus, which has been observed in Madison, Wis., and Auburn, Ala., and has 

 also been collected in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Indiana. 



Dissemination of bur clover leaf spot, F. A. Wou {Phytopathology, 6 

 {1916), No. S, p. 301). — The leaf spot of bur clover due to Cercospora medi- 

 caginis has been found to be spread by means of bur clover seed, and it is 

 recommended that the seed be immersed for one minute in boiling water to 

 prevent the occurrence of the disease. This treatment seems not only to 

 destroy the fungus but also to hasten the germination of the bur clover seed. 



Experiments to control late blight of celery {Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. 

 and Expt. Farm, 41 {1915), p. 11). — As a result of three years' experiments it 

 is claimed that in seasons of normal rainfall losses from the late blight of 

 celery can be prevented by spraying with a 4 : 4 : 40 Bordeaux mixture, begin- 

 ning with the plants in the seed bed and continuing the spraying at intervals 

 of ten days or two weeks throughout the growing season. 



The Bio Grande lettuce disease, C. W. Cahpenteb {Phytopathology, 6 

 {1916), No. 3, pp. 303-305, fig. 1). — A brief account is given of investigations of 

 a lettuce disease occurring in the lower Rio Grande Valley, in which there 

 is a reddening of the older leaves and blanching of the younger ones, restricted 

 development of newly forming leaves accompanied by small, dark-colored 

 blister spots along the border, and the development of numerous lateral adven- 

 titious shoots and dry and dead small roots. Analyses were made of the 

 irrigation water used and of the soil about the affected plants, and it is 

 believed that the trouble in question is due to the presence of alkali. 



A new smut on Sorghiim halepense, I. B. P. Evans {So. African Jour. Set., 

 12 {1916), No. 11, pp. 543, 544, pi. 1). — A technical description is given of Sor- 

 osporvum simii n. sp.. which is said to attack Johnson grass in South Africa. 

 Attention is called to this fungus and to the fact that it will probably attack 

 Sudan grass unless precautions are taken against its introduction. 



Control of the sugar beet nematode, H. B. Shaw ( f7. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' 

 Bui. 112 {1916), pp. 19, figs. 6). — A popular account is given of the sugar beet 

 nematode {Heterodera schachtii), which, it is said, has been introduced into 

 the United States and has become established in several sugar-beet districts of 

 the West, where it causes considerable injury. 



It is claimed that the only practical method of controlling the pest on a 

 large scale is the rotation of crops not attacked by this nematode. Where 

 small areas of land are infested, it is claimed that the nematodes may be eradi- 

 cated by the liberal application of unslaked lime, which should be thoroughly 



