246 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD. 



Field studies of a leaf -roll disease of potatoes, C. L. Fitch (Proc. Soc. Hort. 

 Sci., 9 {1912), pp. J/Jt-Sl). — According to the author, in 1911 potatoes in South 

 Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico were affected by a 

 disease the most characteristic symptom of which was the rolling of the leaflets 

 upward. The purpose of the paper is to present the field conditions and his- 

 tory of the disease and to call attention to its resemblance to the leaf-roll 

 disease of Germany and Austria. In the discussion following the presentation 

 of the paper, W. A. Orton, of this Department, confirmed the occurrence in 

 this couutiy of the true leaf roll that has prevailed in Germany since 1905. 



JWoteworthy communications reg^arding sugar beet diseases appearing in 

 1913, A. STrrr (CentU. Bakt. [etc.], 2. Aht., 37 {1913), No. 1-3, pp. 34-53).— 

 This is a digest of numerous investigations on sugar beet diseases published 

 during the past year. 



Vegetable parasites of tomato, E. Finaedi {Avven. Agr., 20 {1912), 2Vo. 7, 

 pp. 290-292; ahs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. \_Rome], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant 

 Diseases, 3 {1912), No. 10, p. 2310). — The author reports that the tomato crops 

 in the Province of Parma have been severely attacked by various diseases, 

 among the most widespread of which are bacteriosis {Bacterium hriosii), po- 

 tato disease {Phytophthora infestans) , and Septoria lycopersici. Descriptions 

 of the diseases and of appropriate methods of control are given. 



A rot of tomato caused by Phytobacter lycopersicum n. sp., J. Geoene- 

 WEGE {Meded. Rijks Hoogere Land, Tuin en Boschbouwsch. [Wageningen], 5 

 {1912), No. 5, pp. 211-239, pis. 5; CentN. Bakt. [etc.], 2. AM., 37 {1913), No. 

 1-3, pp. 16-31. pi. 1). — The author gives an account of a tomato rot causing 

 considerable damage recently in parts of Holland, ascribed to the activity of 

 an organism found in connection therewith and described as P. lycopersicum. 



It is thought to be an obligate aerobic and wound parasite, infecting the 

 fruits from soil long planted in tomatoes, as evidenced by the facts that the 

 lower fruits were often first attacked aiid that deep turning or removal and 

 renewal of the top soil rendered plats so treated again suitable for tomatoes. 

 The disease is said to be favored by excessive moisture and hindei'ed by venti- 

 lation and drying. It has been suggested that the disease may at least in 

 part be carried by insects attacking the fruit. Aj-tificial inoculation of leaves 

 and stems showed no results. 



Details are given of physiological studies made. A degree of variability has 

 been observed, the possibility of the connection of which with physiological 

 conditions is discussed, as is also its probable relation with other organisms. 



Natural resistance to disease in fruits, U. P. Hedbick {Proc. Soc. Hort. Set., 

 9 {1912), pp. 106-llJf). — Lists are given of varieties of apples, pears, peaches, 

 l)lums, and cherries which are relatively immune or susceptible in New York 

 to some of the more important diseases to which these friiits are subject. 



Bitter pit in apples {Jour. New Zeal. Dept. Agr., 5 {1912), No. 2, p. 139; Jour. 

 Dept. Agr. So. Aust., 16 {1913), No. 6, pp. 667-672; Fruit World Austral., U 

 {1913), No. 2, p. 49). — This is a summary of the first progress report on bitter 

 pit investigations carried on since August, 1911, and still in progress by D. 

 McAlpine. 



It is claimed that the trouble is not due to an organism. The spots, which 

 are more common on the moi'e actively transpiring, drier calyx-end half of the 

 apple, are usually present subcutaneously be^fore maturity of the fruit as 

 regions of dry shrunken tissue, usually marked outwardly by the pits. Thf 

 rotting of such fruit is also characteristic and the pitting may be associateil 

 with black spot or scab, bitter rot, glassy or watery core, or moldy core, or 

 the trees or fruit may be perfectly healthy othenvise. The disease is more 

 common on apples than on i)ears or quinces and on some varieties more than 



