1918] DISEASES OF PLANTS. 249 



preservation upon the strength of timber under varying conditions of time, 

 temperature, an<l humidity. The tests are to be continued. 



Practical wood preservation processes for prolonging the life of mill roofs, 

 C. H. Teesdale {Trans. Nat. Assoc. Cotton Manfrs., No. 102 (1911), pp. 231- 

 235). — A short paper on this .subject presented at the annual meeting of the 

 National Association of Cotton Manufacturers at Boston, April 25 aud 26, 1917. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Department of botany, A. V. Osmun {Massachusetts Sta. llpt. 1916, pp. 

 59a-64(i)- — A brief account is given of the various lines of investigation carried 

 on by the department of botany, including studies of an anthracnose of shade 

 trees due to Glocosporium sp. which is believed to be responsible for the dis- 

 ease on a number of different species of trees, spindling sprout of potatoes, an 

 unusual rotting of potatoes due to I'ln/tophthora infcstans which was not 

 accompanied by blighting of the vines, the overwintering of the white pine 

 blister rust fungus on Kibes, injury to white pines apparently due to weather 

 conditions, and outbreaks of downy mildew on greenhouse cucumbers ; experi- 

 ments which gave negative results with the potato powdery scab in Massa- 

 chusetts ; and tobacco and onion disease investigations. 



The production of spores by Alternaria solani in pure culture, K. D. Rands 

 {Phytopathologij, 7 {1911), No. //, pp. 316, 311, fig. jf).— The author reports hav- 

 ing been able to secure spore production by A. solani in pure cultures. The 

 fungus was grown on hard potato agar for several days, then shredded and 

 stirred, and the moisture relations controlled for 24 to 48 hours thereafter. 



Puccinia subnitens and its fecial hosts, !<]. Bethel {Phytopathology , 1 {1911), 

 No. 2, pp. 92-9 Jf). — As a result of culture experiments, the author reports 

 P. sxihnitcns, the common rust of Distichlis spicata, as producing secia on 22 

 species of plants embraced in 15 genera and 6 families. 



Note on Xylaria polymorpha and X. digitata, J. R. Weir {Phytopathology, 

 7 {1911), No. S, pp. 223, 22//).— The author reports having observed in 1900. 

 near Scottsburg, Ind., X. polymorpha in diseased areas in living roots of a 

 4-year-old apple tree. In the same orchard in 1908, X. digit ata was collected 

 from the roots of a G-year-old pear tree. In addition, the author reports col- 

 lecting X. digitata from roots of Populus trichocarpa and Cratagus douglasii at 

 Priest River, Idaho. 



Grain smuts, D. B. Swingle {Montana Sta. Circ. 10 {1911), pp. 4)- — Descrip- 

 tions are given of oat and wheat smuts and treatments recommended for their 

 control, as well as for smuts of other cereals. 



Notes on the distribution of the bacterial disease of western wheat grass, 

 P. .1. O'Gara (Phytopathology, 1 (1911), No. 3, pp. 225, 226).— The disease of 

 western wheat grass due to Aplanobactcr agropyri, formerly reported in two 

 counties in Utah (E. S. R., 36, p. 647), is recorded as occurring in three widely 

 separated districts of Montana. 



A bean disease introduced in diseased seeds, H. Garman (Kentucky Sta. 

 Circ. 16 (1911), pp. 91-95, fig. 1). — A description is given of bean anthracnose, 

 with suggestions for its control. 



Factors affecting the parasitism of ITstilago zese, P. J. Piemeisel (Phyto- 

 pathology, 1 (1911), No. If, pp. 294-301). — The author reports a study of corn 

 smut (U. zca^) made to determine the vitality of the spores and sporidia, the 

 effect upon them of placing corn in the silo, etc. 



The infection of corn by U. zcw is said to be purely local, no evidence having 

 been found of systematic infection. When very young plants are attacked, 

 they may be killed. Injury to the host plant, close planting, very early or 



