DISEASES OF PLANTS. 61 



The analysis of feeding cakes and meals has been begun by the station and will be 

 reported upon in a separate publication. Detailed reports are given of the results of 

 the different analyses of seeds, the most of which were grasses and leguminous forage 

 plants. 



The new seed control station at Vienna, T. vox Weixzierl (Ztschr. Landw. 

 Versuchsw. Oesterr., 7 (1904), No. 5, pp. 391-403, pis. 14). — An illustrated description 

 is given of the new buildings of the seed control station of Vienna. Notes are also 

 given on the establishment, personnel, and work of the station. 



Weeds and their suppression, J. Percivai. (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 10 (1904), 

 No. 4, pp. 461-467)- — In a popular article the author calls attention to various 

 methods by which weeds may become distributed, the effect they produce upon 

 agricultural crops, and suggests a number of means for their eradication. These 

 methods include the use of clean seed in sowing, deep plowing, and thorough culti- 

 vation where once established, the use of special fertilizers for curing the acidity of 

 soils, etc., and for certain weeds special treatment with herbicides. 



Equisetum palustre and its eradication, H. Juhlin-Daxnfelt (A'. Landt. 

 Akad. Handl. och Tidskr., 4? (1903), No. 4, pp. 335-339). 



"Weeds on Swedish moor plantations, R. Tolf (Svenska MosskuUurfor. Tidskr., 

 17 (1903), No. 6, pp. 428-440). 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Report of the vegetable pathologist, D. McAlpine (Jour. Dept. Agr. Victoria, 

 2 (1903) , No.& pj>. 250-260) .—The material of this report is grouped under the fol- 

 lowing headings: Experiments, principal diseases of the year, publications, and 

 miscellaneous notes. 



Among the experiments reported upon was a test of various materials added to 

 Bordeaux mixture and used for the prevention of diseases of apple and pear. Among 

 those added to the mixture were sulphate of ammonia, sal-ammoniac, saltpeter, and 

 common salt, with a slight difference in favor of common salt at the rate of 1 lb. to 

 40 gal. of water. There was practically no advantage noticed that could be attributed 

 to the addition of the other chemicals. The copper-soda mixture in which washing 

 soda is substituted for lime of Bordeaux mixture was tested and was found to not 

 give the same adhesiveness as when Bordeaux mixture of the usual formula was used. 



Notes are given on the bitter pit of apple, rust in wheat, variety tests of wheat, 

 oats, etc., stinking smut experiments in which seed wheat was treated with a num- 

 ber of substances of which copper sulphate, formalin, and corrosive sublimate gave 

 uniformly good results, etc. 



Among the principal\liseases reported upon are the early blight of potato, a disease 

 of tubers to which the name "blister" is given, and a sclerotium disease of potatoes. 

 The blister disease seemed to be due to the presence of immense numbers of nema- 

 todes. The early blight of potatoes is attributed to Alternaria solan i, and the sclero- 

 tium disease to an imperfectly known fungus. 



Brief notes are also given on a disease of cauliflower which arises in the seed bed, 

 root rot of fruit trees, mold of wheat, and tobacco mold. The latter attacks the 

 plants in the seed beds, and the best results so far obtained for the prevention of this 

 disease have followed the treatment of the beds before sowing with a rather strong 

 Bordeaux mixture. 



Among the miscellaneous notes reported upon are the destruction of charlock or 

 wild mustard by spraying with copper sulphate solution, the reputed poisonous 

 nature of the black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), and notes on the destruction of 

 mistletoe. 



Annual report of the consulting- botanist, W. Carrvjthers (Jour. Hoi/. Agr. 

 jS'oc. England, 64 (1903), pp. 296-309, figs. 5). — A report is given of the investigations 



