888 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Some pathological and physiological notes on coffee, A. Zimmermann (Meded. 

 'S Lands Plantentuih, 1904, No. 67, pp. 10-',, pis. 4; abs. i>» Bot. CentbL, 96 {1904), No. 

 40, p. 359). — The results of a prolonged study of coffee diseases and injuries in Java 

 are given, in which the author notes the injury caused by the insect Pentatoma plebeia 

 and injuries due to a large number of fungi, among them HemUeia rastatrix, Gloeospo- 

 rium coffeanum, Coniothyriurn coffese, and Cercospora coffeicola. He also describes a 

 destructive disease which is doubtless of fungus origin hut which has not yet been 

 fully studied. Notes are also given on a disease causing the falling of the flowers of 

 the coffee, on the variation in the form of fruit, the influence of light on the devel- 

 opment of young coffee plants, etc. 



Some cacao diseases in Africa, O. Appel and H. F. Strunk (Cevtbl. Bait, u. 

 Par., 2. AM., 11 {1904), Nos. 16-18, pp. 551-557, jigs. 9; 20-22, pp. 632-637 , figs. 4).— 

 The results of extended studies made by the author at the botanical garden at Vic- 

 toria, Kamerun, on the diseases of cacao are given. The diseases, due to the follow- 

 ing new species, are described: Diplodlna cortieola n. sp., Rhabdospora theobromse 

 n. sp., Discella cacaoicola n. sp., Colletolrichum theobromse n. sp., Piricularia caudata 

 n. sp., Gorymbomyces albus n. gen. and sp., Nectria (Eunectria) camerunensis n. sp., 

 and Fusarium theobromse n. sp. 



A witches' broom disease of cacao in Surinam, F. A. F. C. Went ( Verhandl. 

 K. Akad. Wetensch. Amsterdam, 2. Sec, 10 {1904), No. 3, pp. 40, ph. 6; abs. in Bot. 

 CentbL, 96 {1904), No. 40, pp. 358, 359). — A peculiar kind of witches' broom of cacao 

 is described. 



The disease appears to attack all parts of the plant, often resulting in the fasciation 

 of the branches and the formation of mummied fruits. The cause of the disease is 

 discussed at length. It is believed to be due to a species of Exoascus, and its affini- 

 ties with the leaf-curl fungus which attacks many stone fruits are discussed. All 

 evidences of diseased material should be destroyed to prevent the spread of the 

 injury. 



A disease of red alder, Appel (Nalurw. Ztschr. Land- u. Forstw., 2 {1904), No. S, 

 pp. 313-320, figs. 3). — A disease of red alder due to Valsa oxystoma is described. 



A similar disease is known in a number of parts of Europe, where it causes con- 

 siderable injury locally. In some cases other fungi were associated with the Valsa, 

 and culture experiments with young plants have shown species of Cystospora, Mel- 

 anconium, and Qryptospora suffusa. The occurrence of this last fungus indicates that 

 it is not limited in its choice of host plants. The attack of Valsa is often associated 

 with the injury of insects, especially of Cryptorhynchus lapatM. 



Leaf rust of Pinus cembra, D. H. C. Schellenberg {Naturw. Ztschr. Land- u. 

 Forstw., 2 {1904), No. 6, pp. 233-241, figs. 2). — A description is given of a leaf rust of 

 Pinns cembra, which the author believes is due to a fungus identical with that which 

 causes the leaf cast of the white pine. The fungus has been identified as Perider- 

 mium slrobi, and its relation with Qronartium ribieola on various species of Ribes as 

 an alternate generation is described. 



A form of Nectria on the white pine, G. Queritet {Ing. Agr. Gembhux, 14 

 {1904), No. 16, pp. 803-814).— -The occurrence in Belgium of a canker disease of white 

 pine is noted. 



The author attributes this disease to a species of Nectria, and discusses the relation 

 of the fungus to Nectria ditissima, X. cinnabarina, and N. cwurbitula. The parasite 

 seems closely related to N. ditissima occurring on the beech tree. The species is 

 believed to be a generalized one which has developed a form on the white pine. 

 The relation between the fungus and certain scale insects is discussed at length. 



Definite preventive measures to be adopted against this disease are said to be 

 unknown, but by constantly cutting out the affected parts of the trees the spread of 

 the disease may be held in check. 



