760 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



pit was abnormally small and contained no kernel, or at most an abortive one. When 

 the tree is affected by the little peach disease, all fruits on a branch are affected and 

 are fairly uniform in size, whereas in the case under consideration normal and small 

 fruits were found on the same branch. Several instances of imperfect fertilization 

 of fruits are cited, and no apprehension is felt for succeeding crops. 



Tile drain clogged hy fungus. — A report is given of the clogging of the tile drain to a 

 vinegar cellar liy a fungus which proved to be Leptomitiis lacteus. The fungus pro- 

 duces a growth resembling the "mother" of vinegar and had to be removed in 

 various ways from time to time. The application of a small quantity of copper sul- 

 phate to the drain succeeded in eradicating it. The authors believe that the clogging 

 of drains in this manner is more common than is generally known. 



Occurrence of a fungus in refrigerators. — The attention of the authors was called dur- 

 ing the summer to the improper working of a refrigerator. Upon investigation it 

 was found that the drain pipe was plugged throughout its entire length with a fungus 

 growth of a gray or dirty gray color, consisting of a mixture of fungus mycelium and 

 dirt from the ice. It had a slimy, slippery feel and clung together in sheets or rope- 

 like masses several inches in extent. An examination of the fungus showed spores 

 resembling those of Fusarium, although species of this genus rarely live in water. 

 The definite determination of the organism has not yet been made. The simplest 

 and most effective way of getting rid of this fungus would be to occasionally wash 

 out the drain pipe and ice chamber of the refrigerator with boiling water. 



Botanical botherments, F. H. Hall, F. C. Stewart, and H. J. Eustace {New 

 York State Sta. Buls. 199 and 200, pojiular ed., pp. 12, pis. 2). — A popular summary of 

 the above bulletins. 



Experiments with smut, M. B. Thomas {Proc. Indiana Acad. Sci., 1900, jip. 123, 

 124)- — A report is given of field trials for the combating of oat smut with solutions of 

 formalin. Three fields were sown in April with seed which had been soaked 40, 60, 

 and 90 minutes in a solution of 1 part formalin to 200 parts of water. The seed used were 

 from a badly infested crop, and a similar area was sown with untreated seed. No 

 difference in the fields was noted at the time of germination, and but little difference 

 until the time of cutting. At this time fully 15 per cent of the heads of the untreated 

 seeds were smutted, while not a single stalk was observed from the fields where the 

 seed had been treated. Of the 3 separate lots of treated seeds, the one soaked for 60 

 minutes seemed to be the best, and that time is recommended as safe and efficient 

 for the treatment. 



Seed barley treated with bluestone, J. R. MARnx {Queensland Agr. Jour., 9 

 {1901), No. 2, p. 187). — The author reports the successful prevention of smut by the 

 soaking of seed barley in copper sulphate solution. The seed is soaked for from 2 to 

 3 hours in a solution which is made so that about \ lb. of the chemical is used for 

 every bushel of grain. 



Rust in wheat and other cereals, V. Thiele {Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope, IS 

 {1901), No. 12, p. 809). — The author briefly describes the use of a fungicide known as 

 "Ceres Beize," which is said to be eflacient in preventing rust, smut, and other dis- 

 eases of cereals. 



The generic nomenclature of cedar apples, J. C. Arthur {Proc. Indiana Acad. 

 Sci., 1900, pp. 131-136). — The author's conclusions are given relative to the nomen- 

 clature of the common cedar apples which have hitherto been described as species 

 of Gymnosporangium. As a result of his investigations it was claimed that Tremella 

 replaces the name Gymnosporangium as a genus of Uredineae, and the necessary 

 changes of synonymy are indicated. 



A disease of mangolds and sugar beets, R. H. Biffen {Depl. Agr. Cambridge 

 Ihiiv. Rpt. 1901, pp. 87-89). — The author reports having observed in July, 1900, a 

 disease of mangolds in which the first noticeable symptoms were a browning of the 

 outer leaves, while the inner ones became yellowish-green and much wrinkled. The 

 disease seems to first show itself along the edge of the leafstalk. Upon examination 



