Y44 EXPEKIMENT STATION" EECOED. 



a disease whicjt had affected previous crops, but had not been definitely recog- 

 nized. The disease is considered as having been caused by Thielavia basicola, 

 and cooperative experiments will be made with the Wisconsin Experiment Sta- 

 tion in trying to breed a disease-resistant strain of Burley tobacco. 



A serious new wheat rust in th.is country, M. A. Cakleton (Science, n. 

 ser., 42 (1915), No. 1011, pp. 58, 59).— The author reports the discovery of 

 Puccinia gluiiiarum, the yellow leaf rust of wheat, in a field of wheat at 

 Sacaton, Ariz., by a party representing the Office of Cereal Investigations of 

 this Department. About the same time the rust was reported on Hordeum 

 niurmum in southern California, and later was found in considerable abun- 

 dance in various parts of Oregon and Washington and to some extent in Idaho, 

 and a few specimens were taken at Bozeman, Mont., and Logan, Utah. 



Control of stinking' smut of winter wheat with formaldehyde, H. C. MiJLLEB 

 and E. Molz (FiihUng's LandiD. Ztg., 63 (1914), No. 24, pp. 7^2-752).— Detailed 

 results are given of several series of more recent tests (E. S. R., 32, p. 341) 

 with formaldehyde alone and with copper sulphate in solutions for steeping 

 seed wheat for protection against stinking smut, also regarding the value, in 

 this connection, of paraformaldehyde, which proved to be injurious and not 

 protective. 



The role of sucking insects in the dissemination of fire-blight bacteria, 

 V. B. Stewakt and M. D. Leonard (Phytopaihology, 5 (1915), No. 2, pp. 117- 

 123). — In a previous publication (E. S. R., 30, p. 650) the relation of the 

 tarnished plant bug as a carrier of the causal organism of fire blight was pointed 

 out. In the present paper an account is given of experimental work on young 

 apple seedlings under cages, to which the following species of sucking bugs 

 were transferred from near-by weeds : AdclpJiocoris rapidus, Campylomma ver- 

 tasci, Orthotylus flavosparsus, and Pceciloscytus basalis. 



From the results of the experiments it appeared that all of the above-named 

 species are capable of producing fire-blight inoculations when the causal organ- 

 ism is present, and that they are undoubtedly instrumental in spreading the 

 disease. 



Three strawberry fungi which cause fruit rots, F. L. Stevens (Science, n. 

 ser., 41 (1915), No. 1068, pp. 912, 913).— In a previous publication (E. S. R., 31, 

 p. 645) the author called attention to the presence of a number of rots on 

 strawberries in shipment. 



In the present paper descriptions are given of a fruit rot due to PatelUna sp., 

 and another rot caused by Splicer onemella sp., both of which have been found 

 on market berries. The frequency of their presence is believed to render them 

 of considerable economic significance. In addition, a black rot due to Sphceropsis 

 sp. is described. 



A nasturtium wilt caused by Bacterium solanacearum, Maky K. Bkyan 

 (U. S. Dept. Ayr., Jour. Agr. Research, 4 (1915), No. 5, pp. 451-458, pis. 4, 

 figs. 3). — A description is given of a bacterial wilt disease of nasturtium, first 

 observed in the summer of 1914. The disease prevents blossoming, stunts the 

 plants, and finally kills them. It is caused by B. solanacearum,, and a cross- 

 inoculation with a virulent strain from tobacco produced typical nasturtium 

 wilt. 



Cultivated ageratums and verbenas were also found susceptible to infection 

 by this organism, the author having thus added another family of plants to 

 those already known to be subject to attack. 



Oak fungus or Armillaria niellea in connection with nursery stock, W. T. 

 HoKNE (Mo. Bui. Com. Ilort. Cal., 4 (1915), No. 4, pp. 179-184, figs. S).—In 

 continuance of previous contributions (E. S. R., 27, p. 450; 32, p. 241), the author 

 states that Armillaria spots have come to be of exceedingly frequent occurrence 



