216 



BTLLKTIN So. 8, OCTOl'.EK. 1SS9. 



Preliminary report ox smut ix oats. W. A. Kellermax, Ph. D., 

 AXD A\'. T. Savixgle (pp. 91-104), (illustrated). — This contains brief 

 notes on the name and histor}' of this disease; an account of the 

 nature and extent of the injuries caused by it. its botanical and micro- 

 scopic characters, and methods of prevention, with special reference 

 to that proposed by Professor Jensen, of Co])enhagen. Denmark; a 

 record of experiments by the authors, and brief notes on some of the 

 natural enemies of the smut. There are also brief statements regard- 

 ing stinking smut, with the announcement that experiments with 

 fungicides for this disease are in progress at the Station. The nat- 

 ural enemies of the smut in oats, described in this article, are a 

 white mould. l)liick mould (a new species of Macrosporium), a species 

 of bacteria, probably, and two beetles. Phahtcnf.^ (sp. ?) and Brachy- 

 tarsus varlegatii!<. Say. The experiments recorded had the following 

 results : 



(1) Verification of results obtained by Professor Jensen showing 

 that grains still included in the husk can not be infected by spores 

 in contact with the exterior of the husks, and that, therefore, the 

 disease can not l3e spread by spores in the soil or manure. 



(2) Verification of the effectiveness of the remedy proposed by 

 Professor Jensen, which consists in simply dipping the seed in water 

 at a temperature of 132 degrees F. 



(3) Solutions of iron sulphate (li i)Ounds i>er gallon), copper sul- 

 phate (4 ounces to 1 gallon, eighteen hours), concentrated lye (5 per 

 cent), and sulphuric acid (3 per cent and 10 per cent), either did 

 not decrease the amount of smut or were injurious to the seed. 



BULLPrriN No. it. DEr'E-AIBEK. ISSO. 



Experi:mext ix pig feeding, E. M. Sheltox. JNI. S.. axd H. M. 

 Cottrell. M. S. (pp. 107-119), (illustrated).— This experiment is 

 substantially a repetition of one made in 188S, differing from that, 

 however, in the age of the animals fed, those in the previous experi- 

 ment having been mature, while these were young pigs. The object 

 was to observe the effect of a nitrogenous ration (shorts and bran) 

 and a carbonaceous ration (corn meal and potatoes) on the compo- 

 sition of the carcass of young growing pigs, especial attention being 

 paid to giving the food in such forms as to secure the largest pos- 

 sible consumption of it by the pigs. Ten Berkshire pigs were used, 

 which, at the beginning of the experiment, were from fifteen to 

 twentj-one Aveeks old, and averaged G8.4 pounds in weight. The 

 trial continued fifteen weeks, from August 13 to November 25, 1889. 

 During this time five of the pigs were fed with shorts and bran 

 cooked in equal proportions. The other lot of five pigs received 

 cooked corn meal, to which 5 per cent of tallow was added. From 

 the seventh to the tAvelfth week, inclusive, the corn-fed pigs received 



