DISEASES OF PLANTS. 583 



p. 411). — A brief account is given of the gray rot of grapes, due to Botrytis cinerea. 

 The author recommends the removal of the leaves in such a v^-ay as to secure a bet- 

 ter circulation of air about the plant and the consequent evaporation of moisture, and 

 dusting the plants with a powder composed of 90 per cent gypsum and 10 per cent 

 copper sulphate, or 80 per cent gypsum and 20 per cent neutral verdigris. 



Diseases of the hardy catalpa, H. von Schkenk ( U. S. Depl. Agr., Bureau oj 

 Fovextnj Hid. 37, pp. 4U-.'>S, ph. S, figs. 2). — After describing the dural)ility of the 

 catalpa timber, the author considers some of the diseases to which this tree is sub- 

 ject. As a rule, the hardy cata]])a is free from destructive diseases. The leaves are 

 sometimes attacked by parasitic fungi which seldom occasion any material injury. 

 The young twigs so far as known are seldom attacked by any fungus, and root dis- 

 eases are likewise unknown. Under unfavorable conditions, however, there are 2 

 fungus diseases which destroy the wood of the trunk: One, a soft rot, caused by 

 Poh/porus versicolor, which destroys the heartwood of the catalpa very rapidly after 

 it has once gained entrance; and a second disease, known as the brown rot, which is 

 due to a new species of fungus to which the name P. catalp:v is given. The young 

 slioots an<l leaves of the catalpa sometimes suffer from an apparent ))light, in which 

 tlie leaves and buds turn black, shrivel, and fall from the tree. Tiiis trou))le seems 

 to be widely distriliuted, and is due to tlie presence of the larv^c of one of the gall 

 gnats. 



Notes on some diseases of western conifers, H. von Schrenk {Ahs. in Science, 

 n. ser., 16 {1902), No. 395, p. J3S). — Tlie coniferous trees of the Pacific Coast and 

 adjoining regions are said to be attacked by a number of fungus diseases, some of 

 which destroy as much as 40 per cent of the standing timber. The more important 

 diseases are caused bj- Trametes jiinl, Poly poms scJiireinitzii, P. libocedris n. sp., 

 Echhiodontium tinctorum, and Poly poms officinalis. The development of these fungi 

 and the manner and extent to which they destroy wood are described. 



The prevalence of Alternaria in Nebraska and Colorado during- the drought 

 of 1901, (i. G. Hedgcock [Ahs. in. Science, v. ser., 16 {1902), No. 395, pp. 136, 137).— 

 A report is given of the observations made by the author in various sections of 

 Nebraska and Colorado during the period of severe drought in July and August of 

 1901. The conditions which existed seem to have retarded the development of such 

 fungi as Cercospora and Phvllosticta, but favored the growth of Alternaria, the 

 leaves of such plants as sugar l)eets, potatoes, pumpkins, cantaloupes, and plantains 

 being severely blighted. 



Sclerotinia fructigena, J. B. S. Norton {Abs. in Science, n. ser., 16 {1902), No. 

 395, p. 137).— According to the author, previous studies of this destructive fruit 

 disease have been confined to the conidial stage. He reports having found the 

 apothecia abundantly on buried peach and plum fruits, which are described at some 

 length. The cycle of development of the fungus is completed in a few days, and the 

 connection between the apothecia and monilia form was demonstrated by laboratory 

 cultures. On account of the formation of the fruiting organs on the buried fruits, 

 the author states that diseased fruits should be burned or otherwise destroyed. 



Arachniotus trachyspermus, a ne^v species of the Gymnoascacese, C. L. 

 Shear {Ahs. in. Science, n. ser., 16 {1902), No. 395, p. 138). — A description is given of 

 the above fungus, which has l)een isolated in diseased craid)erries grown in New 

 Jersey. The fungus appears to l)e undescribed and, so far as known, not hitherto 

 repijrted in the United States. 



The finding of Puccinia phragmitis in Nebraska, J. M. Bates {Ahs. in Science, 

 n. ser., 16 {1902), No. 395, ]i. 138). — The author reports finding the fccidial stage of this 

 fungus on the garden rhubarb in 1901, and the following year upon different species 

 of Rumex occurring at a number of localities. This completes the life history of the 

 fungus, which is believed to be new to this continent. 



North American TJstilagineae, G. P. Clinton {Jour. Mycol., 8 {1902) , No. 63, pp. 



