348 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



noted are the root disease due to Phoma betw, heart or dry rot, beet scab, bac- 

 teriosis. root rot due to Rhizoctonia violacea. root tumor, several of the abnor- 

 mal root developments, the occurence of dodder (Ciiscuta eufopea) on beets, 

 and the leaf diseases, such as those caused by Cercospora heticola, Clastero- 

 sporiinn putrefaciens, and the albinism of beet leaves. 



The diseases of the sugar beet during 1909, K. Stormeb {Bl. Zuckerriiben- 

 hati, n {1910}, No. 5, pp. S8-93). — This is a general discussion of the sugar 

 beet industry in connection with its insect and fungus enemies. 



The insects noted as injurious during the year were the cutworm {Agrotis 

 sp.), Ipaf louse, and carrion beetles {SiJpha atrata and S. opaca). 



Of the fungus pests, false mildew (Peronospora schachtii) and root disease 

 {Pythium dcbaryaiium) did considerable damage. The experiments conducted 

 indicate that the deficiency of lime and phosphoric acid in the soil was a 

 favorable condition for the development of the latter, and mixtures of lime and 

 kainit are recommended as a remedy. For the control of heart or dry rot of 

 beets, well-drained soil to which has been added gypsum to neutralize the 

 alkaline condition of the soil and leave it physiologically acid, is recommended. 

 For the beet wilt due to the beet nematode ( Hctcrodcra schacJitii), which was 

 also present, crop rotation and soil disinfection with carbolineum are recom- 

 mended. Poor physical condition of the soil, especially if deficient in lime, 

 seems to favor this disease. 



The cause and control of beet diseases in Posen and West Prussia, R. 

 SCHANDER {Dent. Z uckcrittdii.s., 3'f {IHOil), Xo. 6. pp. 121-12Ji; ah^. in VentbL 

 Bakt. [c/c], 2. Abt., 26 {1910), No. 8-9, pp. 309-311).— It is stated that root 

 disease and heart or dry rot are the two main enemies to sugar beet culture. 



Phoma betw is given as the usual cause of the first disease, and it is most 

 prevalent on seedlings. Experiments in seed disinfection for this disease were 

 not successful, and the author claims that the drying and crusting over of the 

 soil during the germination and early growth of the seedlings weakens them 

 and contributes to the disease. The kind of fertilizer, especially the form of 

 nitrogen used, was found to influence the development of the disease. Lime 

 nitrogen had the least effect, while calcium nitrate was the most effective, with 

 Chili saltpeter next. Liquid manure was also found to give good results against 

 the disease. 



The heart or dry rot is claimed to be due to physiological causes, these attack- 

 ing the beets at the time of greatest growth. It always appears after a period of 

 great heat and dryuess. The character of the soil and kind of culture and 

 fertilizers used are given as factors in producing this disease. 



The root diseases of beets, W. Btjsse and P. Ulrich {Mitt. K. Biol. Anst. 

 Land u. Forstic, 1909, A'o. 8, pp. 21-2.'i). — A review is given of the work done 

 by the authors on the root diseases of beets during 190G-1908 (E. S. R., 19, p. 

 347; 20, p. 546), with reference to their causes and control by seed treatments, 

 fertilizers, and resistant varieties. The probable influence that the physical 

 properties of the soil may have on the occurrence of these diseases is noted. 



Root tumors on sugar beets, J. Reinelt {Bl. Zuckerriibenbau, 16 {1909), 

 No. 21, pp. 328-330; abs. in Ccntbl. Bakt. [etc.], 2. Abt., 26 {1910), No. 16-17, 

 p. -^179). — This is a continuation (E. S. R.. 21, p. 446) of the discussion as to the 

 cause of root tumors on sugar beets, in which the author concludes that no con- 

 tagious source can be assigned for this trouble and that the impulse for tumor 

 formation does not come from the environment but from the beet itself. 



The heart or dry rot of beets, W. Busse and P, Ulrich {Mitt. K. Biol. 

 Anst. Land u. Forstw., 1909, No. 8, pp. 2.'f, 25). — This is a brief summary of 

 experiments conducted with different varieties of sugar and common beets in 

 legard tc their resistance to this rot. Saltpeter and ammonium salts were 



