152 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



years' experimentation aud the conclusions stated by the author may be sum- 

 marized as follows : 



The seedings of wheat experimented with in 1910-11, taken in order of least 

 susceptibility shown to TUlctia tritici, were those made on INIarch 27, October 

 12, November 9, and February 22. Spores of 1909 showed little less vitality In 

 this coimection than did those of 1910. In the same order of immunity, the 

 dates of 1911-12 seedings were September 28, March 27, October 12, and Febru- 

 ary 29. The late September and late March sowings, in soil strewn with spores 

 of T. tritici showed from 0.5 to 1 per cent infection, while seeds already infected 

 sown on these dates showed as high as from 3 to 8 per cent of attack. All 

 these seeds had been subjected to the treatment of copper sulphate followed by 

 lime. 



It is concluded that seeds even strongly infected are not necessarily attacked 

 by stinking smut. Temperature at the time of seeding and during the first 

 stages of growth, and rapidity of early deA-elopment, are considered to play an 

 important part, and these may be employed to supplement fungicidal treat- 

 ment, which, however, is very important in case of late fall or early spring 

 seeding, especially with those treatments promoting quick development. Ad- 

 herent mixtures, as copper sulphate with lime, do not always prevent attack 

 due to spores already present in the soil, but in many cases these are rendered 

 harmless by contact with the protecting layer, due to the persistent qualities 

 of the copper. 



These findings are thought to exi)lain the fact that in previous years untreated 

 seed produced smut-free crops, alternating with those showing severe infection, 

 the latter being due presumably to slow growth during the early phases of 

 development of the young plants. It is suggested that, in experiments insti- 

 tuted to test the real efficiency of any fungicide to be used against Tilletia, it 

 is well to sow grain either late in autumn or early in spring in order to secure 

 high susceptibility of the test grain to the fungus. 



Smut experiments iQuecmland Agr. Jour., 30 {1913), No. 2, pp. 97-99). — 

 Experiments of 1912 are said to have borne out the observation that the early 

 maturing rust-resisting varieties of wheat are more prone to rust than the later 

 ones. An apparent exception was noted in case of Florence, but this may have 

 been due to a lack of uniformity in the infecting spores. The 30 varieties tested 

 are given, with the results from each. 



Two new methods of smut prevention were tested, the copper sulphate and 

 salt and the 1 : 30 sheep dip. Both were found to be of no value. The germina- 

 tion percentage of 1912 was considerably lowered by excessive moisture in the 

 soil. 



A root disease of Paspalum dilatatum (Afjr. News [Barbados], 12 {1913), 

 No. 28//, p. 9'i). — A brief note is given on a disease of P. dilatatum grown in 

 Montserrat. This introduced grass is reported as having grown well at first, but 

 was subsequently attacked by a root disease. An examination of the diseased 

 clumps revealed conditions which resembled those of cane roots attacked by 

 Marasmius sacchari. Upon breaking up the root clumps two small agarics were 

 found, one a species of Marasmius and the other apparently a species of Crepi- 

 dotus. On account of the lack of material it was imix)ssible to determine 

 whether the fructifications belonged to the mycelium which is believed to have 

 destroyed the gi'ass. 



A hitherto but little recognized potato disease (Hypochnus solani), J. 

 Eriksson {Meddel. Centralanst. Forsoksv. Jordbrulcsomrddet, 1912, No. 67, pp. 

 11, figs. 5; K. Lamdthr. Alcad. Handl. och Tidslcr., 51 {1912), No. 7-8, pp. 550- 

 558, figs. 5). — The author gives the history of the disease and describes its ap- 

 pearance in Sweden. The methods of control recommended are (1) avoiding 



