846 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



On pure cultures of Phytophthora infestaiis, and the development of 

 oospores, G. H. Pkth\T3ridge and P. A. Murphy (Sci. Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc, n. 

 scr., 13 {1913), No. 36, pp. 566-58S, pis. 2).— The untliors state, as the result of 

 further work with P. infestans (E. S. R., 29. p. 549), that results were ob- 

 tained confiruiatory of the work of Clinton (E. S. R., 25, p. 348), showing 

 that in pure cultures in certtiin artificial media P. infestans does form " sex- 

 ually produced spores or oospores," but they admit that one can not be certain 

 as yet that an actual process of fertilization occurs. It is stated that the 

 authors found oospores to have been produced in at least one-third of the cases 

 examined by them. They I'egard such spores as having been developed par- 

 thenogenetically. They were not able to state whether oospores are developed 

 in the potato plant, but they apparently regard such production as possible, and 

 a possible means of keeping the fungus alive over winter is by their dropping 

 into the soil and reinfecting the croo in the following spring. 



The use of the green muscardine in the control of some sugar cane pests, 

 J. B. RoREB {Phytopathology, 3 {1913), No. 2, pp. 88-92, pi. i ) .— Froghoppers, 

 moth borers, and the larvae of beetles are said to be among the most serious 

 sugar cane pests in the West Indies. All of these have been found susceptible 

 to the green muscardine, an epizootic disease caused by the fungus Metnrrhizi- 

 um anisopliw. The author has carried on a series of investigations with this 

 fungus and developed a method for its successful use in the field. 



The stem rot or Hawaiian " iliau " disease of sugar cane, C. W. Edgerton 

 {Phytopathology, 3 {1913), No. 2, pp. 93-98, pi. 1). — A description is given of a 

 disease of sugar cane in Louisiana which has been under observation since 1910. 

 The author considers it identical with that described as Gnonionia iliau from 

 Hawaii (E. S. R., 28, p. 53). 



In Hawaii the disease is said to be more severe in the cooler regions, and it is 

 found more prevalent in northern Louisiana, but this is believed to be due not 

 to the difference in temperature but to the methods of saving and planting cane 

 as practiced by the farmers in the different sections. 



Club root in South Africa, I. B. P. Evans {Agr. Jour. Union So. Africa, 6 

 {1913), No. 1, pp. 93-97, figs. 2).— The first authentic record of the occurrence 

 in South Africa of club root of cabbage and cauliflower, due to Plasmodiophora 

 brassicce, is reported. An investigation showed that the disease, under the name 

 dik-voet, has been known for 12 or 15 years in a portion of the Cape Province, 

 where it has caused some little injury, but it seems now to be widespread and 

 quite destructive. So far it has not been reported as attacking turnips, being 

 principally confined to cabbages and cruliflowei-s. The author recommends the 

 removal and destruction of all infected plants, the use of lime, and the rotation 

 of crops so as to avoid cruciferous plants as much as possible. 



Celery blight, or rust, and its prevention, E. S. Salmon {Gard. Chron., 3. 

 ser., 53 {1913), Nos. 1382, pp. 414-4I6, figs. 6; ISSJf, pp. 3, 4, fig. i).— This dis- 

 ease of celery, otherwise called leaf spot or leaf scorch, and in the United States 

 late blight, and said to be widespread and destructive, was studied by the 

 author who reports substantially as follows: 



This fungus, Septoria petroselini apii, is often present on celery long before 

 it is noted in the summer, sometimes even in the seed bed, causing damage 

 during the entire growing period. Dipping the plants while in process of trans- 

 planting in Bordeaux mixture and spraying them three times with the s:ime 

 (in June. July, and August) are said to be safely protective. 



Lettuce drop, O. F. Burger {Florida Sta. Bui. 116, pp. 25-32, figs. 3).— A de- 

 scription is given of a disease of lettuce due to Sclerotinia Ubertiana. which has 

 become very serious in parts of Florida. In addition to lettuce the same fungus 

 was found to attack celery and cabbage in the fields. For its control the author 



