652 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



designed by the makers for the application of sprays to the underside of grape 

 leaves, and their relative merits discussed. 



Nematode disease of banana in Egypt, J. Lamba (Bui. Union Agr. Egypte, 

 10 (1912), Nos. 83, pp. 17-21; 85, pp. 77-S6).— Besides a brief account of the 

 progress of the nematode disease noted as threatening the practical extermi- 

 nation of banana culture in Egypt, the author discusses the application and 

 value of several treatments mentioned, such as employment of trap plants 

 and of various insecticides, liquid and gaseous. 



Coconut diseases, S. J. Ashby (Jour. Jamaica Agr. Soc, 11 (1918), No. 11, 

 pp. 20-25). — In this report the author deals with die-back disease ascribed to a 

 Diplodia attacking trees aged 15 years and upward; bud rot disease, thought 

 to be identical with Bacterium lactis wrogenes; gummosis, ascribed to unsuit- 

 able soil conditions; and dwindling or pencil-point, of undetermined cause. 

 Remedies are suggested for the control of the diseases. 



Stilbum flavidum, a parasite of coffee and its systematic position, A. 

 Maublanc and E. Rangel (Gompt. Rend. Acad. Set. [Paris], 151 (1913), No. 19, 

 pp. 858-860; ahs. in Agron. Colon., 1 (1913), No. 6, pp. 179-181).— The authors 

 state, as the result of a study of 8. flavidum found on a considerable number of 

 wild plants, that this parasite, which attacks coffee trees only under favor- 

 able conditions of heat and moisture, is the sterile form of a fungus which 

 they have named Omphalia flavida n. sp. It is stated also that the parasite 

 readily extends itself without the recurrence of the peri(*ot form. 



Black pit of lemon, C. O. Smith (Phytopathology, 3 (1913), No. 6, pp. 277- 

 281, pi. 1). — In continuation of a previous note (B. S. R., 29, p. 650), the author 

 states that for the past three years two of the chief commercial varieties of 

 lemons, the Eureka and Lisbon, have shown the presence of a disease called 

 black pit. This trouble seems to be increasing and has assumed some economic 

 importance. It develops on tree-ripe lemons during the spring months, and 

 does not reappear during the remainder of the year. 



A study of diseased fruits showed the presence of a bacterial exudation, and 

 transfers were made both by punctures and by spraying. Almost without ex- 

 ception, successful inoculations followed the punctures in from 3 to 10 days, 

 and in some instances the disease developed after the fruit was sprayed with 

 the organism. -^ 



The organism which is held to be responsible for this trouble. Bacterium 

 citriputeale n. sp., is technically described. 



On some relations between Fuccinia malvacearum and the tissues of its 

 host plant (Althaea rosea), W. Robinson (Mem. and Proc. Manchester Lit. and 

 Phil. Sac, 57 (1913), pt. 3, No. 11, pp. 2Jf, pis. 2, figs. 7).— The author has made 

 a study of the intimate relation which exists between this fungus and the cells 

 of the host, and gives a description of the histological features of the diseased 

 spot as compared with the corresponding normal tissues. 



It was found that the germ tube from the sporidium of P. malvacearum 

 penetrates the epidermis of the hollyhock, sending an infection vesicle into the 

 cell. Later, branches are produced which grow into the intercellular spaces, 

 iind the mycelium sends haustoria into the cells of the affected area. Strands 

 of hyphae were found to pass into the vascular bundles where they set up a defi- 

 nite attack on the phloem region. In the case of the leaf each pustule is related 

 to several vascular strands. According to the author, there was a definite 

 diminution in the quantity of starch in the regions invaded by the fungus, and 

 the cells of the host plant were found to remain alive for a considerable time 

 after the entry of the haustoria. The haustoria lie within the protoplasm and 

 grow toward the nucleus. Various changes in the cell contents were noted on 

 the entry of the haustoria. The chloroplasts lost their color and contour and 



