DISEASES OF PLANTS. 571 



and in many cases this has resulted in a broader description than the original, which 



was l>ase<l on a single type specimen. 



After enumerating and describing the species, a list is given of the host plants, with 

 their different parasites, the distribution of the species is indicated, and an extensive 

 list is given of references to the more important articles relating to the t'stilagine^. 

 This bibliography embraces more than 200 titles. 



A corn mold, J. L. Sheldon {Nebraska Sta. 7.'/*/. 1903, \>i>. 23-32, fig. 1). —The 

 author's attention was called in 1900-1 to a reported injury to cattle from eating 

 moldy corn. A number of specimens of moldy corn were examined, and a reddish 

 mold seemed to be present on all samples. This was isolated and cultivated and 

 proved to be a species of Fusarium, the characters of which are described. So 

 far as the author has been able to determine it is an undescribed species, and the 

 name F. moniliforme is given it. The relation of this fungus to a disease of animals 

 is discussed elsewhere (E. S. R., 16, p. (306). 



Notes on the wheat stem disease (Ophiobolus herpotrichus), C. J. J. van 

 Hall (Tijdschr. Plantenziekten, 9 (1903), pp. 77-110).— The disease of the wheat stem 

 caused by the attack of Ophiobolus occasioned much loss in the Netherlands during 

 1902. It is thought to lie communicated by the mycelium of the fungus living in the 

 soil. It causes the lower portion of the stems to turn brown and weaken, resulting 

 in the lodging of the wheat about blossoming time. 



At the time of the severe attack of 1902, circular letters were sent to some 200 cor- 

 respondents asking for information regarding the appearance of the disease, the 

 history of fields in which the grain was attacked and of such fields as remained free 

 from injury. 



From the answers received the writer draws the following conclusions: 



Wheat should not follow wheat or barley oftener than once in three or preferably 

 four years. The best sowing date is early in November and certainly not earlier 

 than the latter half of October, since early sown grain is more liable to the disease. 

 Wheat following a leguminous crop is especially liable to the disease. Red thick- 

 headed wheat appears to be more resistant than other sorts. Exchange of seed is 

 beneficial. A too rank growth due to nitrogenous fertilizers is dangerous. There is 

 no advantage in unusually deep plowing — the usual depth is quite as good. — n. m. 

 pieters. 



Diseases of cereals, L. Dec-rully (Prof. Agr. el Vit. (Ed. UEst), 25 (1904), No. 

 40, pp. 371-374, ]>1. 1). — -The occurrence of rusts, smuts, bunt, ergot, etc., on cereals 

 and the injury done by them are described, and suggestions are offered for their 

 prevention. The author describes the methods of treatment of seed grain with 

 copper sulphate, hot water, and formalin for smut prevention, and where the copper 

 sulphate solution is used he recommends treating the seed with powdered lime after 

 the preliminary soaking. The lime facilitates drying, prevents continued injury by 

 the fungicide, and acts in a favorable manner toward the young plants. 



Farm treatment for ergotized rye, L. Grandeau {Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 8 

 (1904), No. S3, pp. 202, 203). — An account is given of a method suggested by Miiller 

 and Nobbe for the removal of ergotized rye from seed. This is based on the different 

 specific gravity of the sound and diseased grain. In order to separate the ergotized 

 grain a solution of 16 kg. of potassium salt containing 37 per cent potash is made in 

 100 liters of water. The seed is placed in this, stirred thoroughly, and the diseased 

 grains being lighter rise and are skimmed from the surface. After thoroughly stirring 

 and removing the diseased rye, the remainder is removed, washed, and dried as 

 rapidly as possible, after which it may be seeded. 



It is said that hot summers with prolonged periods of sunlight tend to the produc- 

 tion of ergot, particularly in Sweden, and the past summer having been of this char- 

 acter it is thought desirable to advise cultivators of this method of obtaining clean 

 seed. 



17604— No. ti— 05 5 



