752 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



eases of sugar «:ane, recommendiug among various protective measures the 

 selection of sound seed for planting and the development of resistant varieties. 



[Lime treatments of soil for Plasmodiophora brassicse], D. A. Gilchrist 

 {County Northumh. Ed. Com. Bui. 19, 1913, pp. S6-91). — The swede crop of 

 1903 having been practically destroyed on certain plats by finger-and-toe disease, 

 this ground was employed to test the effectiveness of various lime dressings in 

 checking the disease. During the following 9 years the crop returns have 

 averaged about 11 tons per acre, the increase occurring principally during the 

 last 7 years. Good cultivation apparently aids greatly in the remedial treatment 

 of the soil. Dressings of lime in various forms, with the exception of gas lime, 

 proved effective, especially in the fourth and later years of their application, 

 when the value was almost doubled. Lime mud, costing only one-third as much, 

 was almost as effective as lime. The percentage of badly diseased, in compari- 

 son with that of slightly diseased, swedes was progressively decreased. 



Tlie New York apple tree canker, L. R. Hesler (Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci., 1911, 

 pp. 825-839, figs. 7).- — This disease, known since 1900 to be caused by Sphwropsis 

 malorum, is figured and discussed in some detail. 



Preventive measures have not been carefully worked out, but cleon culture 

 with tree surgery is recommended. It is said that the latter has been applied 

 at a cost of about 25 cts. per tree, the procedure including removal of all 

 diseased bark, disinfection with corrosive sublimate, and painting over the 

 wounds with coal gas tar. Wounding should be carefully guarded against at 

 all times. Spraying is of value only in preventing the first attack and is usually 

 of doubtful practicability even then. Cutting off diseased limbs below the 

 point of attack and permitting a new shoot to form has been found practicable. 

 Selection of noususceptible varieties is thought to be a means of possible value. 



A new parasite on Poly stigma nib rum, A. Bondartsev {Izv. Imp. St. 

 Peterb. Bot. Sada (Bui. Jard. Imp. Bot. St. Peter.^1).), 13 {1913), No. 3, pp. 59- 

 64, pi. 1, figs. 2). — A description is given of Gloeosporium polystignmcolum n. sp., 

 a fungus found living parasitically upon P. riihrum on plum leaves. The Glosos- 

 poriutu attacks the other fungus and causes the spots to dry and fall away. 



A technical description of the new species is given. 



A conidia-bearing species of Septobasidium, N. Patouillard {Compt. Rend. 

 Acad. Sci. [Parish, 156 {1913). No. 22, pp. 1699-1701, figs. 3).— The author 

 reports having received from Brazil, Cochin China, and elsewhere specimens 

 of S. aJb-idam on branches and leaves of cultivated species of citrus. 



The fungus does not seem to be parastic upon the plant, but seems to occur 

 symbiotically with species of Coccidai. Cultures made showed that it developed 

 conidia abundantly, and this has enabled the author to determine not only the 

 complete life cycle of the species but also some of its affinities. 



Comparing with this species that described by Mangin and Viala (B. S. R., 

 15, p. 165) as Bonietina corium, the author concludes that it belongs to the 

 order Septobasidise and is very near the genus Septobasidium. 



The acid spotting of morning-g'lories by city rain, J. W. Harsiiberger 

 {Science, n. ser., 38 (1913), No. 981, p. 5//).— The author observed that follow- 

 ing a light rain in September the wide open flowers of the common morning- 

 gloi"y growing on a lot in West Philadelphia several blocks from the railroad 

 wei'e more or less discolored. Wherever the drops of rain had touched the 

 surface of the corolla, the purple color was changed to a pinkish red, and in 

 the process of evaporation of the raindrops the acid of the drops was concen- 

 trated, so that later brown spots were left in the center of the pinkish red 

 circles of discoloration. The explanation of the change in color is found in 

 the change in the sap of the cells touched by the acid raindrops. 



