44 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



Durability tests with inferior local woods, H. AV. Moor (Bui. Dept. Agr. 

 Trinidad and Tobago, 18 {1919), No. 4. pp. 20Jf-206).—X preliminary report is 

 given on durability tests that are being conductetl under the direction of the 

 forest department of Trinidad, with the following six of the most inferior and 

 least ilurahle native species: Hog plum {Spondia.^ lutea), mahoe {Stcrculiu 

 cnrihwd), jiggerwood (Bravaisia florihundn), Bois Lais Lais, silk cotton 

 ( Eriodendron anfractuosuiii ) , and Chataigne ( Pachira insignis ■) . The data here 

 presented deal with seasoning and impregnation operations conducted pre- 

 liminary to the durability test. 



Significant trends in lumber i)roduction in the United States, F. H. 

 Smith {Anwr. Forestry, 26 (1920), No. 315, pp. H3-147, fig. J).— The author 

 presents and discusses tabular data showing the history of the lumber industry 

 of the country at 10-year intervals from the middle of the last century. Data 

 are also given showing the annual consumption of timber of various kinds in the 

 United States. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Some practical applications of pliytopatholog;y, L. rETRi (Alpe [Itahj], 

 2. ser., 6 (1919), No. 6, pp. 125-136, figs. 2). — The author presents in this article 

 (the first of a series) selected materials briefly illustrative of enterprises in 

 different regions and in various fields as regards phytopathological studies and 

 other activities. 



Report of the department of botany, (). 11. Butler (.Vc/r JIawpshire Sta. 

 Bui. 192 (1919), pp. 17-19).- — An account is given of the research work carried 

 on in the department, which includes studies on the effect of fungicides and in- 

 secticides on plants, structure of the fruit spur of the apple, the toxic action 

 of fungicides, the control of white pine blister rust on Ribes, and the control of 

 snapdragon rust. 



Tlie work with cuprammonium washes has been previously noted (E. S. R., 

 38, p. 2,55). With Bordeaux mixture, the investigation has been continued, and 

 it was found that transpiration was increased by spraying with a 1 per cent 

 Bordeaux mixture, but the increased transpiration was not due to the copper 

 "Salt but to the excess of lime. One per cent Bordeaux mixture was found to 

 not stinmlate plant growth, but had a depressing affect which was more marked 

 in weak than in strong light. Data on the relative toxicity of cupramuiDnium 

 washes the spores of Plasuiopara ribicola are reported. 



Field experiments on the control of snapdragon rust by means of dry sulphur 

 proved ineffective under the temperature conditions prevailing. 



Report of the botany department, C. O. Chambkrs (Oklahoma Sta. Rpt. 

 1919, pp. 33, 3.'f). — x\ study of the value of windbreaks as related to evapora- 

 tion was impaired by the abundance and distribution of the rainfall. Studies 

 on methods for combating snuits of grains and sorghums indicate the need of 

 caution in following the instructions ordinarily given. 



This report al.so includes notes of the plant disease survey. Among the more 

 common plant diseases reported are wheat black chaff and apple scab, this being 

 the first appearance in the State of these diseases. Importance also attaches 

 to cereal rusts and smuts ; false rust of corn ; root rot and angular leaf spot of 

 cotton ; brown rot and scab of stone fruits ; and leaf spot and wilt of tomato. 



Annual report for 1917 of the botanist, R. H. Biffen (Jour. Roy. Agr. 

 Soe. England, 78 (1917), pp. 201-209).— T\\\% report details with discussion the 

 method now in use for testing and estimating the degree of purity of grass seeds. 

 An account is also given of the relation of cereal crops to weather ; of the 

 potato crop as affected by late blight and other factors ; of root, grass, and clover 



