348 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



Bacterial diseases of tomatoes in St. Vincent, W. Nuweix (Agr. Xcics [Bar- 

 bados], 16 (1917), No. 409, pp. 414, 415).— The outstanding character of tomato 

 •wilt (ascribed to Bacterium (Bacillus) solanacearum) In St. Vincent is tin- 

 wilting of the whole plant, usually suddenly, no preliminary discoloration hav 

 ing been observed. Other diagnostic phenomena are reported. The peanut 

 is said to be attacked by the disease on infected soil. 



While fruit inoculations with this organism were unsuccessful, injuries to 

 fruits were observed to be followed by Infection resulting in gas bubbles under 

 the skin of the fruit. The whole content of the fruit, except the seeds, was 

 tinally reduced to slime and gas. this process being very rapid. 



Winter injury to fruit trees, W. Paddock (Agr. Student, 25 (1918), No. 1, 

 pp. 31, 32, fig. 1). — As a result of the unusual cold during the winter of 1917-18, 

 the mortality due to cold effects was very high among peach trees over - 

 years old. Curious phenomena noted Include live fruit buds on trees so Injured 

 by cold jis to die before maturing fruit. Cherry, plum, pear, and apple ttf 

 wen- injured or killed, the older suffering more than the younger trees. Fi 

 cankers in crotches, sometimes severely Injuring the younger trees, appear to 

 have been started by the cold weather. 



Pear blight wind borne, F. L. SlKVKTS, W. A. lie in. and ('. S. SPOOHB 

 {Science, n. scr., 48 (1918), .Yo. 1244. i>p. .}/.''. 450). — In order to determine 

 w liether other agencies than Insects play a part In the spread of pear blight. 

 two pear trees were inclosed in wooden frames, the Structures being covered 

 with wire netting. Fully as abundant Infection was observed on the screened 

 trees as on ethers, Put as the mesh of the wire netting was not sufficiently fine 

 to keep out very small Insects, the experiment was repeated in 1918 with 

 cylinders of fine bolting cloth placed over portions of trees Ten cylinders in- 

 closed flowering wood and 40 were used to cover terminal growth. When 

 examination was made at B later date, blighted flowers were found in two of 

 the cages, the blight evidently having entered through the calyx, and a con- 

 siderable number of blighted terminal shoots were found in other screens. 



These observations are believed to indicate that insects are not of primary 

 importance as carriers of pear blight, and the hypothesis is presented that wind 

 is the chief agency of dissemination. 



Pear-blight control in Rogue River Valley. Oreg.. C. < '. (' ■'• tier Fruit, 



IS (1918), .Yo. 3, pp. 5. 6. jigs. 3). — Pear blight (BoctiUu amplovonu), appearing 

 in the Rogue River Valley in l'Ji'T and being mistaken at first for a sour Bap 

 phenomenon, is now known to attack all local varieties of apples, though the 

 Winesaps are very resistant. Hold-over blight has been found to be due to in- 

 fection of the root systems, influenced very largely by the presence of different 

 insects, the control of which Is regarded as important. 



It was noted that the application of powdered sulphur formerly tried for 

 crown gall had greatly reduced pear blight, also that measures controlling 

 different insects had kept down the blight to a considerable degree. Recom- 

 mendations include careful inspection, the use of from 1 to 3 lbs. of sulphur 

 around the base of trees, tanglefoot bands, spraying with oil emulsion, nicotin 

 and arsenate of lead, and cresol, and disinfection of all wounds made in 

 pruning. 



Control of peach leaf curl at Yanco experiment farm. W. J. Attkn {Agr, 

 Qaa. V. 8. Wales, 29 (191S), .Yo. 7, p. 490). — Freshly prepared lime-sulphur ap- 

 plied to peach trees during the dormant period proved to be almost perfectly 

 protective against leaf curl and also against rust. An application made at the 

 time the buds were swelling permitted some development of leaf curl, and one 

 made when the blossoms were in the pink stage permitted still more ievelop 

 ment of the disease. 



