842 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



[Work of the Bureau of Mycology and Phytopathology], A. lACHEVSKiii 

 (Jaczewski) {Hat. Mikol. i Fitopatol. Ross., 1 (1915), No. 2, pp. 48-52). — This is 

 a general outline of the main problems on which the members of the bureau 

 staff are working at the present time. 



Of particular interest is a peculiar disease of cereals known in Russia as 

 " drunk bread." This is attributed to the action of certain fungi, and results 

 in general intoxication of the population when affected grains are used for 

 food. The disease occurs from year to year in eastern Siberia and also occa- 

 sionally in northern and central European Russia. Pathological as well as 

 chemical investigations are under way, and preliminary reports are already 

 in print. 



Rusts are considered another serious pest of cereals. Work along this line 

 Is concentrated chiefly on selecting and breeding disease resistant varieties. 

 Results of the previous two seasons' work will soon be published. 



In regard to smuts, attention is directed toward simplifying and improving 

 various methods of seed treatment. Contrary to the opinion of some practical 

 men, the exposure of smut spores to a temperature of from 20 to 24° C. for a 

 long time did not affect their ability to germinate. 



Club root of cabbage is said to cause immense losses, especially in suburban 

 gardens of Petrogad. A thorough study was made during the past three years 

 on the life history of the causal organisms, means of infection, host relations, 

 and means of control. 



Much attention lias been devoted to testing various fungicides, and the re- 

 sults of the experiments are fully in favor of lime and sulphur compounds as 

 substitutes for Bordeaux mixture and other mixtures of copper salts. Root 

 gall of nursery stock, American gooseberry mildew, and fungus diseases of 

 insects are the remaining throe problems mentioned in the outline. 



An investigation of the mycological flora in Astrakhan. S. SnEMnET. (^[at. 

 Mikol. i Fitopatol. Rosh., 1 {I'Jlo), Xo. 1. pp. 7-.}/, figs. 2-i). — The author gives an 

 account of fungus diseases observed during the summer of 1913 in the Province 

 of Astrakhan, Russia, chiefly in the vicinity of the city of Astrakhan. 



The number of cryptogamic parasites in that particular season was not very 

 great, but the area affected and the degree of infestation were quite serious. 

 Most prevalent appeared to be members of the family Erysiphace.ie, frequently 

 attacked by a parasite of the genus Cicinnobolus, and various rust fungi. 

 Among the latter is mentioned rronniccs athayinis n. sp. on leaves and stems of 

 Alhagi camcJorum. On the same host the author found also an undescribed 

 species of Septoria which he named S. alhaginis, and another new fungus on 

 Euphorbia csula named Lcptothyrium caspirum n. sp. 



Grapes suffered more than any other cultivated plant, due to a severe attack 

 of mildew {Plasmopara viti-cola), from 50 to 70 per cent of the fruit being 

 affected. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture before the blossoming period gave 

 almost perfect control of this disease, while omission of this spray resulted in 

 the loss of the largest part of the crop. Two applications of Lazurin (a pre- 

 pared Bordeaux mixture) on May 23 and July 3 at the rate of about 4J lbs. 

 to 21* gal. water, with the addition of the dusting of the blossoms with sulphur, 

 practically freed the plants from the fungus. In the same experiment, poly- 

 sulphids and insecticides alone did not check the development of the disease. 



[Report of the plant pathologist], I. E. Babbarin {Otchet ilikol. Kab. Sal- 

 girsk. Opytn. Plod. Sta., 1913-14, PP- ^4)- — A brief account is given of the work 

 carried on at the Salgir Experiment Station since its organization in 1913. 

 The diseases studied included a supposedly nonparasitic spot of apple fruit 

 known in Germany as Stippigkeit ; the so-called dry spot of apple leaves ; pink 



