978 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



by this report the rust (Ud not prevail to any extent and Irttle comparison could be 

 made between the different varieties as to their resistance. The origin of the differ- 

 ent varieties of wheat is given, and their relative yields and character of grain and 

 straw compared. 



Concerning- the so-called brusone of -wheat, ^'. Peglion {Staz. Sper. Agr. Ital., 

 35 {1902), No. 11-12, pp. S65-SSG). — Under the name Ijrusone the author describes 

 the disease of wheat that has been attributed to the fungi Lepto.ip}nma herpoirichoides 

 and Ophioholusgramhih. This disease, which is commonly called the foot disease, the 

 author apparently believes is due at times to soil conditions, and he discusses the 

 effect of alkali and other soils nn the growth and development of the plant. 



Studies on the germination of ergot, S. J. Rostowzew [Ber. Moahati. Laudw. 

 Inst., 1902, No. 3; abs. in Bol. Centhl, 90 {1902), No. 23, pp. 70.5, 706). — Tlie results 

 of studies of Claviceps pvrpuri'a and C. microcephala are given. 



Seed treatment for the prevention of millet smuts, L. Hecke {Ztschr. Landiv. 

 Versadiiiw. Oesterr., 5 {1902), No. S, pp. 933-961). — Studies are reported on the effect 

 of soaking millet seed in solutions of formalin and copper sulphate for the prevention 

 of the smuts Ustilago crameri and V. panici miliacei. The experiments were conducted 

 to test the effect of the fungicides on the smut spores as well as upon the germination 

 of the seed. It was found that the smut spores were killed by soaking in formalin 

 solutions as follows: One per cent solution for 15 minutes, ^ per cent solution for 1 

 hour, or I per cent solution for 3 hours. If thoroughly washed, after soaking, the 

 strength of the solution may be materially increased and the time diminished. For 

 practical application soaking the seed for 15 minutes in ^ per cent solution, 1 hour in 

 \ per cent, or 3 hours in ^ per cent solutions is recommended. These treatments 

 may be safely followed without injury to the germination of the seed. Experiments 

 with solutions of copper sulphate were less satisfactory. The copper solutions were 

 less efficient in destroying the fungus spores and more injurious to the vitality of the 

 seed. The effect of neutralizing the copper sulphate solution with sodium hydroxid 

 was tested and this fungicide prevented the germination of the sjjores to a slight 

 extent only. Extensive quotations and numerous references are given to the work 

 of other in\'estigators who have studied the subject of soaking seed for the preven- 

 tion of smut diseases. 



Treatment of smuts and rusts, D. A. Saunders {Soatli iJakoto tSta. Bui. 75, 

 p]i. 7). — Descriptions are given of the hot water and formalin treatments for oat and 

 Avheat smuts, both of which are cpiite efficient in preventing the diseases. For the 

 prevention of rusts the author states that while many remedies have been tested 

 none has been found that is effective. The burning of the stubble after thrashing 

 is recommended and the sowing of varieties whit-h are known to be resistant. 



The prevention of oat smut and potato scab, R. A. ]Moore ( Wismnsiii Sin. Bid. 

 98, pp. 23, fig>^. 3). — A description is given of the oat smut and a tabular report pre- 

 sented showing the proportionate amount of smutted oats in fields, the seed of which 

 had been treated and untreated. In 172 reports from 15 counties where the seed 

 oats had not been treated there was said to be !(> per cent of the oats destroyed 

 through the action of the smut fungus. In 85 tests in 6 counties where the seed had 

 not been treated the loss amounted to 18.6 per cent, while in 11 tests where the seed 

 had l)een treated with formaldeh\'de the loss amounted to only 1.1 percent. The 

 author computed the loss for the entire State. Basing his figures on the total yield 

 and the average loss as reported, he estimates that the money loss in the oat crop, 

 due to smut, amounts to over $5,000,000 a year. For the prevention of this heavy 

 loss he recommends treating the seed oats with formaldehyde at the rate of 1 pt. of 

 the 40 per cent solution to 36 gal. of water. The seed oats are placed in gunny bags 

 and submerged in the solution for 10 minutes, after which they are spread to dry. 

 The experiments conducted at the station and in cooperation with it have shown the 



