IMTl DISEASES OP PLANTS. 653 



Tomato plants were so badly burned as to be practically worthless when 

 placed in the soil nine days after the application of the cyanaraid. A second 

 crop planted after an interval of about four months gave a fair crop of toma- 

 toes, while plants in check plats yielded nothing. Nematodes were found in 

 all the plats. Eixperiments in which cyanamid was applied at the rate of 1,500 

 lbs. per acre on light soil, and in which tomato plants were set out at once, 

 showed that while the plants were severely burned, they recovered, made good 

 growth, and were nearly free fi'om nematodes. These experiments seem to in- 

 dicate a correlation between the character of the soil and the amount of 

 cyanamid used. 



Where cyanamid was applied to peach trees at the rate of 1 to 6 lbs. per tree, 

 it was found to reduce the number of nematodes present, although not pene- 

 trating the soil readily. 



With pineapples, it was found that cyanamid could be applied at the rate of 

 1,500 lbs. per acre without injuring the plants, the nematodes being fewer than 

 on untreated plants and the pineapples having a better color, probably due to 

 the nitrogen of the fertilizer. 



A new disease of wheat, E. F. Smith {U. 8. Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 

 10 (1911), No. 1, pp. 51-54, P^. 5). — The author reports the occurrence of a 

 disease of wheat that has appeared in Indiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, 

 Oklahoma, and Texas, and is believed to be present in other States. Numerous 

 bacteria have been found associated with this disease, and while not definitely 

 claiming that it is a bacterial disease, the author believes it to be of bacterial 

 origin. A description is given of infected parts of plants, and attention is 

 called to the disease in the hope that material may be forwarded to the author 

 for further study. 



Observations on stalk disease of wheat, J. Capus {Bui. Soc. Path. Teg. 

 France, 2 {1915), No. 2, pp. 9^-104). — Giving the results of observation and ex- 

 perimentation on Leptosphceria herpotrichoides, as causally connected with the 

 appearance of foot or stalk disease in wheat, the author states that the trouble 

 Is favored by the susceptibility of some varieties, by soil and atmospheric hu- 

 midity and warmth (during winter and early spring), by close seeding, by the 

 presence of weeds, and probably by continued seeding of the same land to wheat. 



Sulphuric acid in dilute solution, when used in early spring, kills the lower 

 leaves and sheaths, admitting air and sunshine, both of which are unfavorable 

 to the development of the foot or stalk disease fungi. This treatment is help- 

 ful if used during latency or imminence of the disease, but not markedly so 

 after the attacks are well developed. 



Common diseases of cucumbers and melons, W, H. Maettf? {New Jersey 

 Stas. Circ. 68 {1917), pp. 11, figs. S). — Popular descriptions are given of a num- 

 ber of the more common fungus and bacterial diseases to which cucurbitaceous 

 plants are subject, together with suggestions for their control so far as definite 

 means are known. 



A form of potato disease produced by Rhizoctonia, G. B. Ramsey {U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. Research, 9 {1917), No. 12, pp. 421-426, pis. 4).— In this 

 contribution from the Maine Experiment Station the author gives a descrip- 

 tion of a type of potato tuber disease observed for the first time in southern 

 Maine a few years ago. No positive evidence has been found of the trouble in 

 northern Maine nor any reference to this form of injury elsewhere in the 

 country. 



Two phases of injury are produced by the fungus, one whose external appear- 

 ance somewhat resembles scab and which extends as a dry core into the tuber, 

 another in which the shrinkage of tissues has formed a pit or canal in the 

 center of the infected area, frequently suggesting wireworm injury. His- 



