354 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A disease of the cacao plant, C. K. Bancroft {Roy. Bot. Gard. Kew, Bui. 

 Misc. Inform., 1910, No. 3, pp. DS-95). — A discussion is given of Diplodia cacaoi- 

 cola, the fungus causing die back of the stems and brown pod of the fruits of 

 the cacao. In the absence of a complete life history of the fungus it is said to 

 be impossible to suggest definite remedies for combating this disease, but care- 

 ful cultivation, manuring, and pruning so as to produce a vigorous growth of 

 the trees, and cutting out diseased branches and pods and covering the wounds 

 with coal tar or a mixture of coal tar and clay, together with the removal and 

 burning or burying with lime of all diseased material, are means recommended 

 for keeping the disease under control. 



The Taphrina species of the birch, O. Juel (Svensk Bot. Tidskr., 3 {1909), 

 No. 2, pp. 183-191, pis. 3. fig. t ; ahs. in CentU. Bakt. [etc.], 2. AM., 26 (1910), 

 No. 16-17, p. 482). — The author figures and describes 11 species of Taphrina 

 parasitic on various species of birch. 



The Oidium of the oak in the Botanical Garden of Naples, G. Trinchieri 

 (Bill. Orto Bot. R. Univ. Napoli, 2 {1909), No. 3, pp. -)55--}.59).— Attention is 

 called to the occurrence of this mildew in Italy on two species of oaks, Quercus 

 hriitia and Q. thomasii, in addition to the hosts previously reported. 



Three species of the type of .fficidium cornutum, F. D. Kern (Abs. in 

 Science, n. ser., 31 {1910). No. 799, p. 638). — Attention is called to the confusion 

 that has existed in the species of ^. cornutum. As a result of studies on the 

 biology and morphology of the fungus three species have been determined. The 

 original M. cornutum is found to occur only on species of Sorbus, the second 

 species on Aronia in Europe and America, and the third species, which is known 

 only in America, occurs on various species of Amelanchier. 



A disease of Pterocarpus indicus {Roy. Bot. Gard. Kew, Bui. Misc. Inform., 

 1910, No. 3, pp. 9.5, 96). — This tree, which is extensively used as a street tree in 

 the Straits Settlements, is said to be attacked by fungi, and in several instances 

 a large number of trees have been killed outright. The disease is apparently 

 confined to this species of tree, and is propagated both by the dissemination of 

 the spores and by underground contact. 



A study of the fungi has shown the presence of Polystictus occidentalis, P. 

 floridanus, and Schisophyllum commune. Of these only P. occidentalis is con- 

 sidered parasitic. 



No definite means are known for the control of this disease. It is suggested 

 that trenching about the trees might check the spread of the fungus. 



The Lenzites rot of coniferous woods, R. Falck {Die Lensites-Fdule des 

 ConifcrenhoJzes. Jena, 1909, pp. XXXII-\-2SJt, pis. 9, figs. 2J,, dgms. 2).— This is 

 the third number of Hausschwammforschungen, edited by A. Moller, and is an 

 extended monograph on the growth and development of species of Lenzites 

 that produce a dry rot in various kinds of coniferous timber. It includes also 

 a discussion of the morphology and physiology of the fructification bodies of 

 various species of Lenzites, their primary, secondary, and tertiary mycelial sys- 

 tems, microscopic and macroscopic destructive action on the wood, infection and 

 occupation of timber, prevention and control, and diagnostic characters for 

 judging the Lenzites rot and its distribution in forests and in buildings. 



A species of Nectria fruiting upon the earth, J. B. Pollock {Abs. in 

 Science, n. ser., 31 {1910), No. 799, pp. 638, 639). — In connection with studies of 

 a Fusarium disease of white pine seedlings the author noted what is probably 

 the perfect form of this species. This is believed to be F. pini, but this has not 

 been definitely proved. 



Pine seeds were planted in pots and the soil inoculated from an infested seed 

 bed. Shortly after the seedlings came up they were attacked by a Fusarium, 

 probably F. pini, and the seedlings that survived the attack were allowed to 



