480 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vitality of the cabbage black-rot germ on cabbage seed, H. A. Haeding, 

 F. C. Stewart, and M. J. Prucha {New York State Sta. Bui. 251, pp. 177-194, pi. 1).— 

 The results of investigations on the vitality of the cabbage black-rot germ on cabbage 

 seed are given, a preliminary note on which has already been published (E. S. P., 

 16„ p. 170). The authors found that the black-rot organism {Pseudomonas ca»ipestris) 

 is capable of remaining in a living form on the seed for a considerable time, and the 

 conditions under which cabbage seed is produced make it possible for the organism 

 to be carried over from crop to crop. Cabbages intended for seed are usually placed 

 in shallow trenches at the approach of freezing weather and covered with a few 

 inches of soil. Here they are frozen in and remain until spring. In the spring the 

 plants frequently show the effect of the organism, and observations made in the field 

 show that seed plants are often more or less attacked and the organisms are found 

 adhering to the seed. The bacteria have been isolated and experiments show that 

 cultures of organisms isolated from the seeds are capable of producing a typical form 

 of the black rot. 



A careful study of the conditions attending the growth and harvesting of cabbage 

 seed has led the authors to the belief that practically all the cabbage seed produced 

 on Long Island is infested to some extent. Experiments have shown that the germs 

 are able to live upon the dry seed and retain their vitality from 8J to 11 months. 



Experiments with seed disinfection showed that soaking the seed in a solution of 

 corrosive sublimate or of formaldehyde would destroy the organisms without seri- 

 ously affecting the germination of the seed. This treatment is recommended, but it 

 must be kept in mind that it is only a preventive treatment and that, if plants are 

 set in infected soils, the treatment will have but little value. 



A bacterial disease of cauliflower and allied plants, F. C. Harrison ( Ontario 

 Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm Bui. 137, pp. 32, fig*. 12). — During the summer of 1901 in 

 the vicinity of Guelph complaint was made of a rot of cauliflowers, and shortly 

 afterwards the same disease was noticed in a number of other localities. Later it 

 was found attacking varieties of turnips, the loss in some cases reaching as high as 64 

 pi t cent. The disease was constantly associated with an organism which was isolated, 

 and inoculation experiments made with it showed that it would produce the char- 

 acteristic rot. 



The morphological characters of the organism, which is designated as Bacillus 

 oleracese, are given, as well as the results of an extended series of inoculation experi- 

 ments, which showed the susceptibility of a number of allied plants to attacks of this 

 bacillus. The cultural characters of the organism, as shown on a large number of 

 media, are described and the conditions affecting the spread of the disease are stated. 

 Warm weather, combined with excessive moisture, rankness of growth, abundance 

 of insect pests, injuries from planting, all contribute to the spread of the disease. 

 Marked differences are noted in the susceptibility of varieties to the disease, and a 

 list is given of varieties of turnips in which the percentage of rotted roots is shown 

 for different varieties. 



The sleepy disease of tomatoes {Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 11 (1904), No. 5, pp. 

 300-302). — A description is given of a disease of tomatoes due to Fusarium lycopersici. 

 The fungus causing this disease flourishes in the soil and is known by 3 distinct 

 stages, which are briefly described. For treatment it is suggested that all diseased 

 plants should be removed and burned and, where possible, the soil should be steril- 

 ized. The use of lime on infected soils is recommended, and also that great care 

 be taken in selecting healthy plants and securing plenty of air, light, and room for 

 their development. 



Black spot of the apple, D. McAlpine (Dept. Agr., Victoria, Bui. 17, pp. 32, pis. 

 19, figs. 2). — This is said to be a revised edition of a previous publication, noted else- 

 where (E. S. R., 14, p. 775). 



The disease in question is due to Fusidadium dendriiicum, and an account is given 



