DISEASES OF TLAXTS. 305 



Based ou the variable partitions of the spores, their paraphyses and 

 the contents of perithecia, the authors consider this a new genus, to 

 whicli they give the name Charrinia dipJodieUa. 



On the perithecia of Uncinula spiralis, P. Viala ( Compt. Rend., 

 119 [11^9 j), No. 7, pp. 411-413). — The autlior announced in 18S7 the prob- 

 able identity of O'idium #*«'fce>'/ of Europe and Uncinula spiralis, -cuui 

 the finding of the iierithecia in 1892 and their abundance in 1893 has 

 made it impossible to fully establish their identity. The abundant 

 formation of perithecia was due, in his estimation, to the excessive heat 

 followed by a very sudden fall in temperature. Several other mildews, 

 as ^pha'rotheca pannosa, >S'. epilohii, Erysiphe horridiila, U. communis, 

 and Uncinula, adunca, which hitherto had not fruited in France, or only 

 very sparingly, produced an abundance of perithecia during the last 

 year. 



Attention is called to 2 parasites of the mildew. They are Gmcin- 

 noholus cesatii on the conidiophores and an undetermined bacterial 

 disease of the perithecia. The bacteria are characterized as numerous, 

 small, rod-shaped, colorless, twice as long as their diameter, slightly 

 swollen at their extremities, and often containing a spore at or near 

 each end. 



Banana disease in Trinidad, J. H. Hart {Bot. Dept. Trinidad, 

 Circular yofe W). — During the past few years the cultivation of bananas 

 and plantains has suffered a severe check, due to one or more fungus 

 diseases. Specimens were submitted to G. Massee, of Kew, who deter- 

 mined the fungus as Marasmius semiusUis. Whether any other fungus 

 is concerned in the diseases can not be definitely stated at this time. 

 Burning of all decayed material is the oidy remedy suggested. 



Experiments in checking potato disease [Jour. [British] Bd. 

 Afjr., 1 {1<'^94), Xo. 1, pp. 11-16). — Experiments were conducted by the 

 agricultural dej)artment of the Irish Land Commission during the 

 summer and autumn of 1893 for the purpose of testing the value of 

 the application of ]3ordeaux mixture as a preventive of disease. The 

 experiments were arranged with the view of obtaining information on 

 the following points, viz: (1) Should the i^otato plant be sprayed from 

 above only, below only, or from both above and below ? and (2) is it 

 sufficient to thoroughly spray the i^lant once only, provided that tlie 

 dressing be applied when the foliage is fully developed and immedi- 

 ately belore the earliest period at which the disease may be expected 

 in the locality? It was further decided to test the efficacy of a 2 per 

 cent solution as compared with a Ih per (;ent solution. The experiments 

 were all conducted upon the Champion variety, that being the one 

 most commonly grown in Ireland. The first application of the fungi- 

 cide was given the plants the latter part of June, the second a month 

 later. The amount of dressing varied from 100 to 160 gal. per acre. 

 At the end of September tl:e plats were harvested, and while the 

 untreated vines were all dead, 1 hose which had received si)rayiug with 



