550 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. [Vol.38 



A new and peculiiir leaf spot was noted on a cane variety brought from 

 Kauai, but the trouble rapidly disappeared. 



A peculiar disease noted in Hawaii and characterized by early yellowing and 

 death of tl>e leaves is ascribed to a fungus attacking the leaf bases. 



[The Lahaina disease of sugar cane], G. F. Renton {Proc. Hawaii. Sugar 

 Planters' Assoc, 36 (1916), pp. 57-61). — The Lahaina trouble is said to have 

 caused grave concern to many growers of sugar cane. The trouble is as- 

 cribed to various causes, such as top rot, stellar crystals at the roots, senility, 

 excess of sodium bicarbonate due to poor drainage, or some combination of 

 these causes. 



On one plantation ammonium sulphate has been applied continuously from 

 1909 to 1917, except when an equal portion of sodium nitrate was added in 

 1911, resulting in a more or less regular diminution of the trouble. It is 

 considered probable that conditions favorable to the growth of the Lahaina 

 variety can be gradually brought about by usiug less sodium nitrate and more 

 sulphates, including gypsum, and by conserving the trash, all of which meas- 

 ures oppose alkalinity. Breeding experiments are also recommended. 



Diseases and pests of sugar cane in the Philippines, E. B. Copeland {Phil- 

 ippine Agr. and Forester, 5 (1916), No. 10, pp. 3Ji3-3.'i6). — A condensed account of 

 animals and fungi locally injurious to sugar cane includes, as known representa- 

 tives of the latter class, Pticcinia kuehnii (leaf rust), XJstilago sacchari (smut), 

 Balcerophoma sacchari (leaf spot), Cercospora spp. (leaf spots), Phijllachora 

 sacchari, Meliola arundinis, Apiospora camtospora, Coniosporiitm extremorum 

 and G. vinosum (on dead leaves), Mclaiiconium sacchari (rind disease), and 

 Dyctyophora phalloidea, and a Marasmius attacking the roots. A broom rape, 

 Arginctia indica, is a root parasite on cane and other grasses. 



It is supposed that most of the recognized cane pests and diseases are present 

 at this time in the Philippines, owing to the antiquity of sugar culture and 

 the presence of wild sugar cane in the islands. 



Orchard diseases, J. F. Adams {Proc. State Hart. Assoc. Perm., 58 (1917), pp. 

 69-77, pis. 5). — This discussion emphasized a few of the more important dis- 

 eases of apple and peach, more particularly scab {Venturia pomi), which is 

 designated as the most serious of the orchard diseases, apple fruit spot or 

 Baldwin spot {Phoma pomi), blotch {PhyUosticta solitaria), sooty blotch 

 and fly speck {Leptothyrium pomi), with a schedule for the spraying of apples; 

 peach scab {Cladosporium carpophiluni) , brown rot {Sclerotinia cinerea), 

 and peach-leaf curl {Evoascus deformans), with a schedule for spraying 

 peaches. 



Apple scab and methods of its control, A. J. Gunderson {Trans. III. Hort. 

 Soc, n. set., 50 {1916), pp. 357-364). — Apple scab is thought to have caused 

 more damage to apple orchards in northern Illinois during the past two years 

 than any other factor, and it is thought that western New York and Michigan 

 suffered even greater losses. 



In addition to reducing the quality of the fruit, this disease increases pre- 

 mature dropping to a considerable extent and lowers the keeping qua-lities of 

 the apple by furnishing conditions for the entrance of such organisms as those 

 of pink rot, brown ripe rot, and black rot. Severe infection of the foliage also 

 devitalizes the tree to a considerable extent, affecting future crops. 



The occurrence of the organism on twigs is rare or unknown in Illinois. The 

 disease is described as to the development and life history of the causal 

 organism. 



Bordeaux mixture and lime-sulphur were found to be of about equal value as 

 regards the control of apple scab, but the former may russet the fruit and injure 



