1916] DISEASES OP PLANTS. 45 



of formalin (1 part to 50 of water), or bj^ a layer of sand on the surface of the 

 seed bed. 



A lace bark tree (Lagetta lintearia) was killed by Lasiodiplodki theobromw, 

 said to be a common cause of injury to cacao and other trees. 



The ornamental plant Plimibago rosea was attacked and injured by nema- 

 todes, which may also be the cause of swellings on Echiums. 



Mycological and pathological notes, M. Turconi and L. Maffei {Atti 1st. 

 Dot. R. Univ. Paria, 2. sen, 12 {1015), pp. 329-336, pi. 1 ) .—The authors describe 

 as having been found on leaves of ash received from Mexico, Cercospora lum~ 

 bricoides, n. sp. ; on a branch of Castilloa elastica from the same source, Ncctria 

 castillow n. sp. ; and on twigs of mulberry from Bulgaria, Stcganosporitmi 

 kosaroffli n. sp. 



Review of plant diseases, G. Scalta {Bol. Min. Agr., Indus, e Com. [Rome], 

 Ser. B, IJf (1915), I, No. 2, pp. 52-()3). — This is a condensed review of crypto- 

 gamic diseases, animal parasites, etc., of plants as studied in the laboratory for 

 vegetal)le pathology in the school of enology at Catania, during 1910-1913. 



Annual report of the government botanist for 1914—15, W. Small (Ann. 

 Rpt. Dcpt. Agr. Uganda, 1915, pp. 57-70). — Coffee leaf disease (Hemileia vasta- 

 trix) is reported as having decreased since 1913, apparently of its own accord. 

 Spraying is reconnuended as a preventive, especially in case of young estates. 



Coffee dieback, in so far as it has not been due to attack by Hemileia, is 

 regarded as the direct effect of a form of overbearing by the branches inter- 

 mediate between the basal and apical regions. The remedy consists in cutting 

 away all the part above the early branches and reproducing the top by means of 

 a new sucker from the stump, also in relieving the intermediate branches of 

 their heavy first crop. Good cultivation is a necessity. Of the fungi noted in 

 this connection none appears to be constantly present. 



Brown root disease of coffee, due to Hymcnocluvte noxia, has usually been 

 traced to a dead stump or log, frequently of unknown species. The mycelium, 

 however, can not make its way through the soil, so that only the older trees are 

 attacked. 



Sooty mold of coffee, due to Cap^iodium brasilicnse, is checked by killing the 

 insects which it follows with a spray of whale oil soap solution. An anomaly 

 in the flowering of Uganda coffee was noted in which no pollen was shed, owing 

 to nondehiscence of the anthers. 



Cacao was very little diseased. A dieback was attributed to a fungus show- 

 ing, apparently, the Diplodia spores of Thyridaria tarda. These are thought to 

 cause also a dieback of Hevea, and in part at least a pod disease of cacao which 

 in other cases was associated with Colletotrichum incarnatum and later with 

 Phytoplithora fabcri. A root disease of cacao is described which is thought to 

 have had its origin in native plants previously cultivated. 



Hevea also showed few diseases, Ilymcnochwte noxia being the only root dis- 

 ease as yet certainly identified. A dieback was associated with T. tarda, Phyl- 

 losticta ramicola, and Plioma Jicvew, but not with Gla-osporium. alborubrum, 

 previously noted in this connection. Hevea canker has not been reported. 



Ceara rubber (ManUiot glaziovii) is often attacked and ruined by Loranthus 

 entebbensis. 



Cotton is free from fungus disease except in case of Ramularia areola, which 

 is confined chiefly to young plants, the leaves of which are attacked, usually not 

 very severely. Wheat in some sections is attacked by Puccinia graminis. Maize 

 is attacked by head smut (Borosporhun rcilianum), which is not known to have 

 been reported previously in Uganda. 



Mention is made of several other fungi known to attack various wild or culti- 

 vated plants in Uganda. 



