DISEASES OF PLANTS. 151 



Control of stalk nematodes (Tylenchus devastatrix), A. van Luijk {Cul- 

 tura, 25 (1913), No. 293, pp. 9-17). — This includes a review of previous work by 

 A. Spieclvermaun and others, in part already noted (E. S. R., 26, p. 545), also a 

 brief discussion of means of combating nematodes, and deals mainly with the 

 method of trap plants. 



Buckwheat is regarded as well suited to this purpose as it is severely attacked 

 by the nematodes, which ascend high in the plant. Two cuttings, moreover, 

 are possible in the summe;;. Oats and rye are also severely attacked, and clover 

 in less degree. Barley and wheat are not attacked, this fact favoring their em- 

 ployment for rotation. Disinfection of the soil is found to be difficult and ex- 

 pensive, but some encouraging results have been obtained. 



Sensitiveness of cereals to fung-icidal treatment in 1912, and sug'g'estions 

 for dipping-, H. C. Muller and E. Molz (Deut. Landw. Presse, JfO (1913), No. 

 11], pp. 190-192; Landw. Wchnschr. Sachsen, 15 (1913), No. 8, pp. 65-68).— In 

 the dry year of 1911 it was found that, while wheat was fairly resistant to the 

 hurtful influence of fungicidal treatments, barley sometimes showed a high 

 degree of sensitiveness. This was ascribed to scarcity of moisture during a 

 large part of the growing season of that year. In 1912 it was found that both 

 wheat and barley suffered but little deterioration from the hot-water treatments, 

 or from formaldehyde (used in 0.25 per cent strength of the 40 per cent solu- 

 tion), while the copper sulphate treatment caused serious injury as regards 

 germinability and vigor. The water treatment recommended for barley is 

 immersion for 4 hours at from 25 to 35° C, followed by dipping for 10 minutes 

 at from 50 to 52°. For wheat, soaking for 4 hours at from 30 to 40°, and then 

 10 minutes at from 52 to 53°, was found to be fairly effective and safe. 



Dry spot of oats, H. Clausen (Illus. Landw. Ztg., 33 (1913), No. 7, pp. 

 Jf5-Ji8, figs. 2). — This is a continuation of work already noted (E. S. R., 24, p. 

 449), the conclusions of which have been criticized by Kuhnert (E. S. R., 29, 

 p. 46). The author reports the results of several experiments as to the in- 

 fluence of fertilizers on growth and on yield of grain and straw. 



From these, excellent results were obtained by use of 100 kg. per hectare (89 

 lbs. per acre) of manganese sulphate. This salt is also considered safe to use 

 in connection with other fertilizers. The effect of an application on the crops 

 of future years is to be the subject of further observations. 



Dry spot of oats, W. Kruger and G. Wimmer (Deut. Landw. Presse, J^O 

 (1913), No. IS, pp. 213, 21.'f).— The authors claim that dry spot of oats is a 

 form of heart rot, referring to their previous studies on heart rot of beets (E. 

 S. R., 21, p. 446), and to those of Clausen (see above). The trouble is attributed 

 to the chemical composition of the soil, which is either deficient, or unsuited 

 or poisonous to the plant. It is held that experiments carried out with cul- 

 tures in sandy soils point to their successful use in combating this heart rot in 

 the open fields. 



Premature death of wheat, W. Grosser (Ztschr. Landto. Eammer Schlesien. 

 16 (1912), No. 30, pp. 91,2, 9-'i3; ahs. in Mycol. CentU., 2 (1913), No. 2, p. 111).— 

 (Study of conditions for several years led the author to conclude that Ophiobolus, 

 Fusarium, and Leptosphaeria attack wheat only after it has been weakened by 

 unfavorable conditions, such as genuine parasites, imperfect nourishment, too 

 thick sowing, weeds, or wet cold weather. 



The susceptibility of wheat to stinking smut in relation to time of seeding', 

 O. MuNERATi (Atti R. Aecad. Lincei, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 5. sen, 21 

 (1912), II, No. 12, pp. 875-878; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. 

 Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, .', (1913), No. 3, pp. Jf82, //S3).— This is a con- 

 tinuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 26, p. 54). The results of four 



