DISEASES OF PLANTS. 145 



wheat treated with this fungicide. Formalin as a fungicide is favor- 

 ably considered as an efficient and easy means for the prevention of 

 smut, although the experiments have not been carried on to a sufficient 

 extent to warrant a positive declaration. Corrosive sublimate and 

 formalin used together did not give better results than either of the 

 substances when applied separately. The application of air-slacked 

 lime, thoroughly mixing it with the smutted seed, is said to have some 

 merit in preventing the disease. 



The treatment in 189*5 of oats and barley for smut is reported upon. 

 Hot water, corrosive sublimate, formalin, corrosive sublimate and 

 formalin, copper sulphate, potassium sulphid, and sulphur dioxid 

 were tested. The use of hot water proved the most efficient treatment 

 for oats. Potassium sulphid gave good results for barley, but was not 

 successful when used with oats. Corrosive sublimate was not a suc- 

 cessful treatment for oats, but a single treatment of barley proved 

 efficient. Copper sulphate is not recommended, and sulphur dioxid as 

 far as tested proved quite destructive to the yield and tailed to pre- 

 vent smut. Formalin gave very promising results with oats, and the 

 success which was secured on some plats where corrosive sublimate 

 and formalin were used is thought to be due to the formalin. 



The effect of date of seeding on the presence of smut in oats is 

 briefly reported upon. Xotes are given on the amount of moisture 

 absorbed by wheat in course of treatment, apparatus for dipping pur- 

 poses, the swelling of grain after treatment, and the cost of treatment. 

 Recommendations are made for the treatment of wheat, oats, and barley 

 for the prevention of smut. Copper sulphate, corrosive sublimate, hot 

 water, and formalin are recommended for wheat, and hot water, 

 formalin, and potassium sulphid for oats and barley. 



Broom-corn smut, Or. P. Clinton {Illinois Sta. Bui. ■/;. pp. 373-412, 

 pis. 5). — The author states that there are 3 smuts, Ustilago reiliana, ('. 

 cruenta, and U. sorghi, which are more or less abundant on broom corn. 

 In the present paper the species referred to is Ustilago sorghi. The 

 author claims that on account of the germination of the spores and 

 according to the rules of nomenclature adopted the name should be 

 dntractia sorghi vulgaris. The nature of the injury and amount of loss 

 occasioned is stated and the life history of the fungus quite extensively 

 given. 



Experiments were conducted to ascertain the effect of hot-water treat- 

 ment of the seed, and as has been shown in experiments with other 

 plants, the treatment in many cases increased the total germination of 

 the seed. The germination of the spores, however, was to a great 

 degree destroyed by soaking the seed for about 15 minutes in water 

 heated to 135°. Spores, in unbroken masses, can withstand immersion 

 in water of considerable higher temperature, the degree depending 

 upon the thickness or impermeability of the membrane. 



The effect of cold on the germination of spores was also investigated, 



