466 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



plants, E. F. S^mitit {U. S. Dept. Agr., BImsion of Vecjetahle Physiology and PatJiologii 

 Bui. 28, pp. 153, Jig.9. 2). — The morphology and pathogenii- j)roi)erties of these species 

 of bacteria have been previously descril)e(l by the author and others. The first, 

 known as Wakker's hyacinth bacterium, was described in a previous Ijulletin (E. S. 

 R., 13, p. 63); the black rot of cabbage (E. S. R., 9, p. 849); the blight of beans 

 {E. S. R., 10, p. 1058); and the bacterial disease of sweet corn (E. S. R., 10, p. 1056). 

 In the present report the behavior of these organisms in a large number of different 

 kinds of media, their sensitiveness to various reagents, and other cultural character- 

 istics whereby they may be definitely distinguished, are given. 



Bean diseases and their remedies, B. D. Halsted (Neiv Jersey Stas. Bui. 151, pp. 

 28, pis. 4, figs. 9). — The author has been engaged in a study of the diseases of beans 

 for a number of years, and the present bulletin descriljes those which are most com- 

 mon on the kidney and Lima beans. Among the more important of these are the 

 anthracnose, bacteriosis, and downy mildew. The anthracnose has been previously 

 described by the author (E. S. R., 4, p. 52) and suggestions given for its prevention. 

 This disease produces the brownish spots upon the pods afterwards developing into 

 sunken ulcers. The infection of young seedlings through the seed is shown and tlie 

 treatment of the seed when planted is conunented upon. Conflicting testimony is 

 given relative to the value of seed treatment. Experiments in which the plants were 

 sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, ammoniacal copper carbonate, ami other fungicides, 

 have shown that the disease may be to a great extent controlled by their use. The 

 effect of mulching and distance in planting was studied, and the plats which had 

 been mulched bore a considerably increased amount of diseased pods over the 

 unmulched checks. The effect of distance of planting on the production of disease 

 shows'that where the plants are widely separated there is less tendency to the pro- 

 duc-tion of diseased pods. 



The bacteriosis of the bean, due to . Pseudomonas phaseoli, is described at some 

 length, together with the organism (E. S. R., 9, p. 1058). The foliage, stems, and 

 pods are subject to attack, and the disease may be readily <listinguished from any 

 other to which they are subject. Measures tending to check the ravages of bean 

 insects, it is thought, wiU also prevent the spread of the bacterial disease. A num- 

 ber of investigations have been conducted upon bean plats, the results of which 

 apply to both of the preceding diseases. Irrigation was found to largely increase 

 disease, and planting on old soil seemed to have the same effect. Mulching appears 

 to increase the tendency to disease to some extent, while ridging the land was without 

 any apparent effect. Considerable difference in susceptibility of varieties has been 

 noted, the Green Flageolet being most susceptible and Early Refugee the least. 



The downy mildew of Lima beans, which was first described by the Connecticut 

 State Station in 1889 ( E. S. R., 2, p. 482), is described at considerable length, and quo- 

 tations are given from Connecticut State Station Report for 1897 (E. S. R., 10, p. 261) . 

 V^arious precautions are mentioned for the prevention of the downy mildew, and 

 from the Connecticut experiments the conclusion is drawn that even in unfavorable 

 seasons a thorough treatment of the vines with Bordeaux mixture will insure a crop. 



In addition to the foregoing, the author reports the occurrence of Lima bean pod 

 blight, due to Phorna subcircinala; the bean rust, caused by Uronnj'ces appendicidatus; 

 a bean-leaf spot, caused by Jsarwpsis griseolu, and a bean-leai blotch, caused by Cer- 

 cospora crueuta. These diseases are briefly described, and so far as known sugges- 

 tions given for their prevention. 



On Tfichosphaeria sacchari; a fungus causing a disease of the sugar cane 

 known as rind fungus, A. Howard (Ann. Bol., 14 {1900), No. 56, pp. 617-631).— 

 The author reports studies conducted under tropical conditions, with a view of ascer- 

 tainintrtheeffectof local conditions upon the life history of the fungus, the investigations 

 being designed to supplement those of Massee, who has.described the disease. Three 

 distinct i)hases of the disease were investigated— the Melanconium, micro-, and macro- 

 conidial stages. Extensive cultures were made witfi the Melanconium stage of the 



