146 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



cinia glumarum do not seriously reduce the yield of grain, but where the pus- 

 tules appear on the stalks and glumes between the period of flowering and 

 maturity there is considerable injury done to the plants. 



Beport on barley diseases, 1913, J. Appl (In BericJit iiher die in den Jahren 

 1911-1913 durchgcfuhrten Sorten-Anhauversuche mit Gersten [etc.]. Briinn: 

 Mahr. Landw. Landesversuchsanst., 1913, pp. 39-U, pis. S).— The year 1913 

 was particularly favorable to the development and spread of fungus diseases, 

 barley suffering severely in this region, especially from loose smut {Ustilago 

 hordei nuda) and stinking smut (U. hordei tecta), although the varieties bred 

 by this station were almost entirely free from these diseases. 



The report also deals briefly with Pwccinia gramims, P. ruUgo vera, Erysiplie 

 graminis, Cladosporium herMrum, Hclminthosporium gramineum, Claviceps 

 purpurea, and the several fungi noted in connection with foot or stalk disease 

 (;Ophiobolus, Leptosphseria, etc.), besides some diseases due to animal pests. 



Corn stalk and corn root diseases in Iowa, L. H. Pammel, Charlotte M. 

 King, and J. L. Seal {Iowa Sta. Circ. 21 (1915), pp. 8, figs. 2).— A brief account 

 is given of a new disease of corn found early in the fall of 1914 on an experi- 

 mental plat. A field study showed it to be present in about 30 localities dis- 

 tributed in 15 counties of the State, reducing the yield in infected fields from 

 25 to 30 per cent. 



The disease attacks roots, stalks, and ears, behig easily discoverable by the 

 falling of the corn. This often, however, is attributed to other causes. The 

 stalks usually break near the joints. The diseased stalks have small ears, if 

 any. The pith is frequently destroyed more or less completely, the small 

 axillary shoots are often found to be rotten, and the roots are destroyed so 

 that the stalk pulls up easily. 



It has not been determined whether the same organism attacks all parts of 

 the plant. The disease appears to be spread by the mold on the seed corn or 

 on diseased stalks left in the field, and may have existed for some time in the 

 State. 



A disease oi cattle is ascribed to a fungus found on the stalks. This also is 

 under investigation. The only preventive or remedial measures suggested are 

 rotation of crops and soaking the seed corn in formalin, 1 pint to 45 gal. of 

 water for l.j minutes. 



Downy mildew of tlie cucumber, R. A. Jepile {Modern Cuba, 3 {1915), No. 

 2, pp. 33-38, figs. 5). — This is a description, with discussion, of downy mildew 

 {Flasmopara cubensis) of cucumbers, which is said to be perennial in Cuba 

 and Florida, and very destructive to melons, cucumbers, and squash, especially 

 during periods of wet weather or heavy dews. 



Experiments are referred to which tend to show that Bordeaux mixture 

 sprayed on at intervals during the growing season, preferably just before rains, 

 offers a fair degree of protection. 



JBacterial ring- rot of potato, A. Spieckekmann and P. Kotthoff {Landic. 

 JahrJj., JfG {1914), No. 5, pp. 659-732, pis. 7).— The cause of bacterial ring rot 

 of potato plants and tubers is claimed to.be Bacterium sepedonicum, a biologi- 

 cal and agricultural study of which is reported in some detail. The organism 

 is known to attack, under natural conditions, only Solanum tuberosum, though a 

 few inoculations succeeded with four other species of Solanum. All other 

 Solanacei3e, as well as all other plants, gave negative results. 



Destruction of all affected plants is advised. 



Powdery scab of the potato, H. C. Sands (2V. Y. Deiit. Agr. Circ. Ill (1914), 

 pp. 10, pis. 5). — This is mainly a compilation of information obtained from 

 practical growers regarding the distribution, diagnosis, and treatment of 



