1920] DISEASES OF PLANTS. 445 



disease (Hemilcia vastntrix) ; Para rultber diseases (PhijtophtJiora meadii and 

 brown bast) ; palmyra bud rot {I'l/thititn palmironim) ; areca i)alin inabali dis- 

 ease (PJiytophthora arcra) ; and miscellaneous disorders, whicb as briefly dis- 

 cussed include a disease of ginger, tobacco, and papaya due to a fungus which is 

 here designated as Pythiuni bntlcri n. sp. 



Spraying with lime sulphur, Burgundy mixture and Berger's lime proved 

 eflicacious in controlling peach leaf curl (Exoascus deformans) in Peshawar 

 and Kumaon. In Bombay a vine mildew was controlled with a spray made up 

 of 3 lbs. copper sulphate, 2 lbs. lime, and 2i lbs. .soft soap with water added 

 to make 25 gal. The copper sulphate seed treatment ftf jowar against smut 

 has proved to be thoroughly successful in Bombay, Madras, and the Central 

 Provinces. 



Mycological investigations in progress at Pusa deal with diseases of fruit 

 trees in Kumaon, tokra of tobacco, and Helminthosporium species found on 

 cultivated cereals and sugar cane at Pusa. 



Wlieat smuts and their prevention, with notes on other cereal snmts 

 and ear cockle, G. L. Sutton {West. Aust. Dept. Agr. Bui. 71 {1920), pp. J,Jt, 

 figs. 21). — Wheat in Australia is attacked by flag smut or black rust {Vrocysiis 

 tritwi), loose or flying smut {UstUayo tritici) and ball (stinking) smut or 

 bunt (Tillctia levis, T. tritici), all of which are confined to this host. A descrip- 

 tive account is given regarding each of these smuts, as also regarding barley 

 naked smut {Ustilago nuda) and covered smut {U. hordei), oat loose smut 

 {U. avence), rye stem smut {Urocystis occulta), and wheat ear cockle (Tylen- 

 chus tritici, T. scandens). 



The microflora of normal and of moldy wheat, O. Moegenthaler {Landto. 

 Jahrb. Schiceiz, 32 {1918), No. 5, pp. 551-572, figs. 2).— This is a study of the 

 presence and constituents of the microflora of musty wheat, of the introduc- 

 tion, distribution, and effects of the organisms, and of some practical measures 

 in this connection. No fungi were present in the plated healthy grain examined, 

 the content as regards other organisms being chiefly Bacterium herbicola, which 

 was abundant. 



Moldy grain, on the contrary, contains fewer bacteria but an abundance of 

 cocci and fungi, VeniciUium spp. predominating among the latter. It is not 

 known which organisms originate the characteristic musty odor. The fungi 

 appear to be wound parasites. Upon this fact are based mainly the few 

 practical considerations which are outlined. 



Foot-rot of wheat, F. L. Stkvens {Science, n. ser., 51 {1920), No. 1325, 

 pp. 517, 518). — In a previous publication (E. S. R., 42, p. 244) attention was 

 called to the occurrence of foot-rot of wheat in Madison County, 111. Since 

 that time additional studies have been made of this disease, which from the 

 first was considered as due to a certain fungus that was universally present 

 and gave positive results in inoculation with pure cultures. This fungus has 

 been isolated by transfer, and no other species of fungus or other parasite 

 was constantly present or present in any large percentage of the cases. The 

 disease lesions were always of the same character, and wheat stems placed 

 in conditions of suitable humidity became covered with spores of the fungus. 

 When inoculated with pure cultures, wheat seedlyjgs in moist chambers pro- 

 duced a condition of di.sease indistinguishable from foot-rot as occurring in 

 the field. Wheat planted in soil, pots, or benches containing inoculum of 

 the fungus developed typical foot-rot; when planted in infested soil in the 

 greenhouse. It developed a typical form of disease; and when placed in a 

 moist chamber it bore the same fungus that was constantly associated with the 

 disease La the field. 



