DISEASES OF PLANTS. 449 



Appearance and treatment of stinking smut, O. Appel (Mitt. Deut. Landic. 

 QeselL, 28 (1913), Bcilage No. 16, pp. 1-S, figs. 5).— Noting unusually severe 

 outbreaks of stinking smut during the current year, the author recommends the 

 treatment of seed grain with 0.25 per cent formaldehyde fer from 10 to 15 

 minutes. A second treatment recommended is steeping in 0.5 per cent copper 

 sulphate for from 12 to 16 hours, followed by 1 per cent lime solution for 

 I hour. 



Tests of the hot water treatment of barley and spring wheat at the 

 Pentkowa Experiment Farm, 1912, K. Bieleb {Illus. Landw. Ztg., 33 (1913), 

 A'o. 58, pp. 533-535, fig. 1). — In the treatment of barley and spring wheat seed 

 with water at 25 to 30° C. for 4 hours and for 5 to 10 minutes at 50 to 52* it 

 was found that barley seed was lowered in germinability when the temperature 

 exceeded 51°, while the wheat underwent a temperature of 52° without injury. 



Antecedents and history of a disease of garlic, V. W. Pastor {Antecedentes 

 i Historia de la enfermendad de los Ajos, denommada " Boi.rat " en Banoles. 

 Gerona, Spain: Cons. Prov. Fomento, 1913, pp. 15, pi. 1). — A disease of garlic is 

 described which has been known for some years around Bafiolas in northeastern 

 Spain and which has recently been the cause of considerable damage. It is 

 said to be noted in connection with the bulb mite (Rhizoglyphus cchinopus) 

 with which was associated also a bacillus, possibly B. omnivorus or B. cepivo- 

 rus reported on bulbs by Delacroix (E. S. R., 18, p. 745). 



On the effect of spraying potatoes with soda Bordeaux mixture, J. Porter 

 {Herefordshire County Council Farmers' Bui. 1, 1910, pp. 4)- — Instead of the 

 lime Bordeaux, a mixture was used consisting of 12 lbs. sulphate of copper, 15 

 lbs. pure washing soda, and 100 gal. of water. The spray was effective in pre- 

 venting potato disease, especially when both the upper and lower surfaces of the 

 leaves were sprayed. The yield was increased 1 ton 12| cwt. per acre. 



Treatment for nematodes, L. Bbunehant {Bl. Zuckerriibenbau, 20 {1913), 

 A'o. 19, pp. 289-291). — The author reports improvement in the yield of ground 

 infested with beet nematodes by applying stable and chemical manures and 

 growing the crops in rotation. The order of rotation was beets, wheat, oats, 

 and alfalfa followed by succession of wheat, beets, wheat, oats, and rye or 

 potatoes, with superphosphate or liquid and other manures. 



Selection and treatment of cane seed, J. R. Johnston (Porto Rico Sugar 

 Producers' Sta. Bui. 6 (English Ed.), pp. 29). — A study was made of the relative 

 value of different parts of the sugar cane stalk for planting, germination and 

 disease resistance being considered. 



The author concludes that, other things being equal, top seed give better 

 results than body seed. Only healthy cane should be used in planting and spe- 

 cial efforts should be made to avoid seed from cane affected by the pine- 

 apple disease, red rot, rind disease, top rot, and root rot. 



Experiments with a number of fungicides showed that when the seed was 

 planted under good conditions there was no perceptible improvement in ger- 

 mination, but when disinfectants were applied to infected seed or good seed 

 planted under poor conditions there was a considerable increase in the per- 

 centage of germination. The author states that seed cane exposed to the air 

 becomes infected with a number of fungi. Where a large amount of pineapple 

 disease is present all seed should be treated with Bordeaux mixture. Also 

 seed that is not to be planted immediately or that that is to be shipped should 

 be similarly treated. While the presence of diseased leaf sheaths on seed 

 cane would not affect germination or subsequent growth, the author claims 

 that they should be removed when mealy bugs are abundant or when the seed 

 Is to be treated. 



A bibliography is appended. 



