Diseases of plants. 769 



Destruction of charlock in grain crops, G. F. Strawson {Farmers' Gaz., 61 

 {1902), No. 17, p. 309). — The author made a special effort to inciuire into the opera- 

 tions of spraying for the destruction of charlock, and paid particular attention to the 

 age of the plants when sprayed. He is convinced that many oi the reported failures 

 are due to the late application of the herbicides. If the application was made while 

 the plants were in a rapidly growing, succulent condition, their destruction was 

 effected by the use of a 3 per cent solution of sulphate of copper at the rate of 50 gal. 

 per acre. Not only were the weeds destroyed but the general appearance of the 

 grain crops was improved. The best results followed the use of large power sprayers, 

 and the success of the operation was diminished in proportion to the delay which 

 occurred after the charlock was in the most suitable condition for being destroyed. 

 The suggested use of nitrate of soda in place of copper sulphate has not proved suc- 

 cessful on extended trial. 



Notes on the destruction of some injurious plants, G. Heuze {Jour. Agr. Prat., 

 n. ser., 4 {1902) , No. 33, pp. 211, 212). — Notes are given for the destruction of a num- 

 ber of troublesome perennial plants, among them the creeping bent grass, dog-tail 

 grass, wild oats, Tussilago, bindweed, horse-tail rush, horse sorrel, etc. For those 

 species which have perennial root stocks the author recommends fallowing, and 

 early in the spring a thorough and deep harrowing over of the land, after which the 

 root stocks are raked and burned. For the eradication of the Tussilago and the 

 Equisetum, a thorough draining of the soil together with cultivation are suggested. 

 The author recommends the application of fertilizers, particularly of calcareous ones, 

 for combating the horse sorrel. Soils in which this plant grows aVnindantly are 

 usually characterized by an acid condition which requires the application of lime 

 for its correction. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Miscellaneous notes on fungus diseases of plants, L. H. Pammel {Iowa Sta. 

 Bui. 01, pp. 139-14J, fiij. 1) . — Notes are given on cowpea, clover, and asparagus rusts. 

 The rust of the cowpea was first noticed during the fall of 1901, and numerous speci- 

 mens were observed whose leaves were covered with brown rusty spots. An exam- 

 ination showed that the cause of the trouble was the fungus Uromyces appendkulatm, 

 and so far as the author could ascertain this is the first recorded occurrence on this 

 host. The fungus is rather common upon wild and cultivated beans, usually pro- 

 ducing round spots which by confluence become irregular patches upon the leaves. 

 The microscopic characters of the fungus are described and notes given upon its 

 occurrence and distribution upon other host i:)lants. 



The clover rust, due to V. trifolii, was again noted abundant in 1901. In a pre- 

 vious publication (E. S. R., 3, p. 217) the author called attention to the occurrence 

 of this fungus which was extremely common on second crop clover. It did not 

 increase, and for a number of years was not abundant, but during the fall of 1901 it 

 severely attacked the second crop of clover, causing no little injury to the plants. 



Notes are given on the asparagus rust {Pucc'mia a.^paragi), which first made its 

 appearance in Iowa during the season of 1901. Further information regarding the 

 distribution of this fungus is requested, and the author suggests spraying the plants 

 with a resin Bordeaux mixture, which is commonly recommended for this purpose. 



Report of the vegetable pathologist and entouKjlogist, 11. Tryon {Queensland 

 Agr. .Tour., 11 {1902), No. 6, j)p. 403-408). — A summary report is given of the insects 

 and fungi observed as injuriously affecting a number of plants during the year. The 

 field work which was carried on by the author is described briefly, particular atten- 

 tion being given to investigations of banana diseases. These troubles seem to be due 

 to a numljer of causes, among which are mentioned the punctures of minute thysa- 

 nopterus insects which attack the fruits, a root disease caused by attacks of Heterodera 



