DISEASES OF PLANTS. 345 



Lopping branches in lumbering operations, J. W. Stephen (Separate from 

 N. y. state Fore.st, Fit<lt, and Uame Com. Ann. Rpt. 15 {1900), pp. 9Jf-102, pis. 

 4). — In this report the author explains the necessity for lopping branches in 

 lumbering operations, cites some of the results which have been obtained fav- 

 orable to lopping, and draws conclusions relative to the advantages of this 

 practice. As far as the Adirondack forests are concerned, lopping appears to 

 lessen the danger from fire, promotes reproduction and the closer utilization 

 of wood, and lessens the lal)or of gutterin.ii and skidding. 



Note on best season for coppice fellings of teak (Tectona grandis), R. S. 

 Hole {[Indian Forest Dept.] I'amphlet 16, Bot. Ser. 1, pp. 29). — This paper 

 gives the results of experimental coppice fellings commenced by the Jubbulpore 

 Forest Division of the- Central Provinces in 1906, together with suggestions 

 relative to methods of procedure in conducting such experiments. 



A note on the fissibility of some Indian woods, R. S. Troup {Indian Forest 

 Rec, 2 {1909), No. 2, pp. 29-73, pis. 2). — Data are reported of splitting tests 

 conducted with 61 different species of Indian woods. The tests are described 

 and illustrated. 



[On the development of adventitious roots on old tree stems], Vogtherr 

 {Forstiv. Centbl., n. ser., 32 {1910), No. 6, pp. 305-316, pis. 2).— The author 

 reviews the literature relative to adventitious root development on the aerial 

 parts of old trees and cites many instances which have come under his own 

 observation. 



The greening of fresh linden wood, F. W. Neger {Naturiv. Ztschr. Forst u. 

 Landic, S {1910), No. 6, pp. 305-3 J 3, figs. 2).— The author reports that the 

 greenish hue which fresh cut linden or bass wood assumes in a few days' 

 time is due to chemical reaction rather than to fungi of any kind. When the 

 surface of a piece of linden wood is treated with a solution of oxalic acid the 

 green color disappears very shortly, . which leads the author to conclude that 

 the color is one of the iron-tannin combinations. 



His investigations also included a study into the origin of this coloring 

 matter. From the results it appears that linden wood is generally rich in iron 

 and that the discoloration is more marked when the wood is especially rich 

 in this element. 



DISEASES or PLANTS. 



Contributions to the life history and structure of certain smuts, B. F. 

 LuTMAN (Ahs. in Science, n. ser., 31 {1910), No. 802, pp. 77/7, 7^8). — On account 

 of the recent disco\eries in the sexuality of rusts the author has attempted to 

 discover whether similar phenomena occur in some of the smuts. It was 

 noticed that the mature teleutospores of all smuts were uninucleated, but that 

 there were two nuclei in the younger spores of the Tilletiaceie and possibly also 

 in the Ustilaginaceje. This would seem to indicate that the smuts of the 

 Tilletia group are more nearly related to the rusts than those of the Ustilago 

 group. 



The complete life history of the oat smut was investigated, and it was found 

 that the promycelial cells were uninucleated. The conidia were also uninu- 

 cleated, but they became multinucleated immediately after putting out a germ 

 tube. Infection occurred in from 3 to 5 days and the entire tip of the seedling 

 was full of the intercellular mycelium. This mycelium broke up into spores 

 when the rudiments of the flowers appeared. 



Origin of heteroecism in the rusts, E. W. Olive {Abs. in Science, n. ser., 

 31 {1910), No. 799, pp. 639, 6'i0). — A discussion is given of the various views 

 regarding the origin of heteroecism in rusts, and the author suggests the possi- 

 bility that at one time the barberry may have acted as an ancestral host to the 

 teleutospores of Puccinia graminis. 



