248 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



An outbreak of club root (Urophlyctis alfalfae) on alfalfa in Bavaria, 

 G. KoRFF iPruht. Bl. I'flnnzenhau n. Schutz, n. scr., 7 (WOU), Xo. 21. iip. 1.',7-1G1, 

 figs. 2). — The author discusses the characters of this disease, its dissemhiation, 

 and remedies therefor. See also other accounts of this fungus (E. S. li., 18. 

 p. 151 ; 20. p. 845; 21 p. 549). 



Investig'ations on the cause and remedies for the lieart rot of th.e sugar 

 beet, W. Krltger (Bl. ZuckerrUhcnhau, 16 (1909), No. 2Ji, pp. 369-373).— A brief 

 history of the spread of this disease in Germany is given. The investigations 

 carried on seem to indicate that the condition of the soil and subsoil is a 

 prominent factor in its outbreaks. Poorly drained and nonaerated soils with 

 a strongly alkaline reaction and certain forms of nitrogenous fertilizers were 

 found to favor it. Turf mixed with the soil was found to decrease the virulence 

 of the attacks. The remedies suggested are more humus in the soil and the use 

 of a nitrogen fertilizer which when mixed with the soil will give an acid re- 

 action. 



The root rot of beets, G. Liniiart (Monatsh. Landic, 1 (1908), p. 356; abs. 

 in Bol. Centbl., 110 (1909), No. 18, p. 473).— The value of blanching and soaking 

 the beet seeds as a means of controlling Phoma betw is discussed. The con- 

 clusion is reached that as the fungus is found in the soil as well as on the seed 

 coats, the seed treatment alone will not prevent the disease, l>ut that by a 

 careful selection of the least diseased seeds and cultivation in soil free from 

 the fungus, in addition to the usual blanching and soaking ti-eatment of the 

 seed, a sound crop may be produced. 



The disinfection of beet seed, L. Peters (Mitt. K. Biol. Anst. Land u. 

 Forsiic, 1909, Xo. 8, pp. 25-28). — Experiments were conducted to prevent seed 

 infection by Phoma betce, which is considered to be the only fungus capable of 

 infecting seedlings from diseased seed. 



One hundre<l seed balls were treated in each case and with the following 

 results. Soaking 20 hours in i per cent of dilute carbolic acid gave 28 diseased 

 plants out of 245 germinated. Three-fourths of an hour's soaking in concen- 

 trated (25 per cent) hydrochloric acid, carefully rinsing and neutralizing the acid 

 by milk of lime, and then repeatedly washing with water, gave 42 diseased 

 plants out of 255 germinated. Two hours' treatment in formalin water (4 cc. 

 of 40 per cent formalin to 1 liter of water), gave 47 diseased plants out of 260 

 germinated, and a like period in formalin water (10 cc. of 40 per cent formalin 

 to 1 liter of water) gave 30 diseased plants out of 2.58, and in formalin water 

 (15 cc. of 40 per cent formalin to 1 liter of water), gave 25 diseased plants out 

 of 237. Twenty-four hours' soaking in a 2 per cent copper sulphate solution 

 gave 18 diseased plants out of 255 germinated, and a like period in a 2 per 

 cent copper soda mixture gave 5 diseased plants out of 242 germinated and in 

 a 2 per cent Bordeaux mixture gave 3 diseased plants out of 201 germinated. 

 Thoroughly heating the soaked seed according to Jensen's method gave 25 

 diseased plants out of 228. Two heatings for 10 minutes each at 57° C. on 

 two successive days gave 10 diseased plants out of 225 germinated. 



As will be noted, several of these treatments lowered the germinating power 

 of the seed balls as the percentage of diseased plants decreased. 



Sevei'al other disinfecting solutions were tried, such as corrosive sublimate, 

 sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium i:)ermanganate, iron suliihate, potas- 

 sium sulphid, mngnesimu sulphate, etc., but they did not prove of any practical 

 value in combating the fungus. 



Blackleg, a bacterial disease of the Irish potato, W. J. Morse {Maine Sta. 

 Bui. 17. 'i, pp. 309-328). — The results of three seasons' studies of the stem and 

 tuber disease of the Irish potato due to bacteria are given. 



