262 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



said to occur on the needles of Pinus sllvestris, where the fungus is known as Peri- 

 dermium jaapii. Melampsora aUii-salicis has for its Creoma host different species of 

 Allium, and the uredo and teleutospores occur on Sali.c alba. Melampsora allii- 

 populina forms its Cpeoma on species of allium, and uredo and teleutospores on Pop- 

 uliis niyra. Melampsora galanthi-fragilis occurs on (Talanthus nivalis, with the uredo 

 and teleutospores upon Salix frag'ilis, and also *S'. pentandra. JEcidium elathmm is 

 said to be associated with Melampsorella cerastii. Puccinia cari-histortx is said to be 

 identical with P. anr/elicie-histortir. The teleutospores of ^Ecidium pastinacip. are 

 reported as occurring upon Srirjms ;/irr/v7/;/H/s. 



On the hot-water treatment of cereal grains for the prevention of smut, 

 H. RoMMETiN (Jour. Ayr. Prat., n. ser., 3 {1902), No. 14, ]>p. 440, 4-^i).— Directions 

 are given for the hot- water treatment of cereals for smut prevention, and the value 

 of such treatment in pointed out. The cost of treating the seed required for sowing 

 1 hectare (about 2^ acres) by the method suggested by the author need not exceed 

 20 cents. In the case of oats so treated, it is claimed that a loss of 5 to 10 per cent 

 could be avoided and the treatment much more than paid for. 



The difiFerence between smut and bunt, E. Druce {Queensland Agr. Jour., 10 

 {1902), No. 2, pp. 86, 87). — The differences between the bunt or stinking smut and 

 the loose smut of wheat, oats, barley, and rye are popularly indicated, and the treat- 

 ment of the seed by soaking in solutions of copper sulphate is recommended. 



The wilt disease of the cowpea and its control, W. A. Orton ( 11. S. TJept. Agr., 

 Bureau of Plat it Itidustry Bvl. 17, pp. 22, pis. 4)- — The results of investigations of the 

 wilt disease of the cowpea (E. S. R., 11, p. 94-i) are given. The disease first makes its 

 appearance when the plants are about 6 Meeks old. Growth is checked and the stem 

 shows a faint reddish-brown tinge. The affected plants drop their leaves, the lower 

 ones falling first. The spread of the disease is gradual, and it usually makes its appear- 

 ance in spots throughout a field, spreading from these centers. The cause {Neocos- 

 rnospora rasmfeda tracheiphila) is described, and the manner of infection and spread 

 indicated. While reseml)ling the wilt of cotton and watermelons, the diseases are 

 not intercommunical)le. So far it is known to occur in North Carolina, South Caro- 

 lina, and Alabama, and it is thought probable that it occurs el.'^ewhere. As yet the 

 disease has not caused serious lo^s excejit in a few localities, but there is great danger 

 anticipated from its future spread. Land affected by this disease is said to be pea- 

 sick, but the real reason for the failure of the growth of the peas is the pre.sence of 

 the fungus in the soil. How long the land remains infected in the case of the cow- 

 pea wilt is unknown. 



For the prevention of this disease the rotation of crops and the substitution of 

 other leguminous crojts which are not subject to the fungus are reconnnended, or the 

 growing of resistant varieties, one of which (the iron pea) is said to be inunune 

 to disease. The results of experiments with a large luimber of varieties of cowpeas 

 and other leguminous plants are given, and the relative susceptibility to disease is 

 indicated. 



A cowpea resistant to root knot, H. J. Webber and W. A. Okton ( T. >S. J)ipt. 

 Agr., Bnreau of Plant Industry Bid. 17, pp. 28-38, ph. 2). — While investigating the 

 subject of the wilt disease of cowpeas the authors discovered that one variety (the 

 iron cowj)ea) was almost entirely free from attacks of the nematode Heterodera rad.- 

 cicola, the other varieties being almost destroyed by it. Notes are given on the 

 development and distribution of root-knot nematodes, largely compiled froni Alabama 

 Station Bulletin 9 (E. S. R., 1, p. 185) and Massachusetts Station Bulletin 55 (E. S. 

 R., 10, p. 1055). The use of resistant varieties in stocks for the ])revention of attacks 

 of various diseases and insect j)ests is commented upon and attention called to the 

 freedom of this variety from attack. The possibility of breeding nematode-resistant 

 plants is commented upon. 



