246 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



principal diseases of orchard and forest trees and field and garden crops studied 

 during 1906-7, an undescribed fungus, Gytosporella damnosa n. sp., parasitic 

 on the branches of young pine trees, is described. 



Notes on insect and fungus pests (Jour. Bd. Agr. [Lotidon], 17 (1910), 

 No. 6, pp. JtlS-.'t81, pi. 1). — ^After discussing several insect pests of forest trees, 

 attention is called to a black, hardened, gummy substance, which filled the 

 interstices of the bark from an apparently healthy oak some 100 years old. 

 This black substance originated from a gummy degeneration of a fungus 

 mycelium grown on the bark, and partially from similar changes in the tissues 

 of the bark itself. 



A bacterial disease of ash bark is also figured and described. This usually 

 occurs when the trees are situated in damp, low places where an excess of 

 moisture causes minute cracks on the stems, which are later enlarged by frost, 

 thus affording an entrance for the bacteria which eventually destroys the 

 wood. The wounds should be cut out when small, and the surface tarred. 



The control of scale insects in tlie British "West Indies by means of 

 fungoid parasites, F. W. South (West Indian Bui., 11 (1910), No. 1, pp. 1-30, 

 pis. 2). — Technical descriptions are given of Gephalosporium lecanii, Myrian- 

 giuni durioci, Ophioncctria coccicola, and SphoirosUlhe coccophila, and their 

 distribution throughout the West Indies is indicated. 



On the basis of the author's observations and the investigations of others, 

 it appears that under some conditions these fungi can be successfully employed 

 in combating scale insects. The factors which affect the usefulness of these 

 fungi are said to be temperature, wind, and moisture, of which the last two are 

 the most important. Where conditions are suitable this means of controlling 

 scale insects may be depended upon, and only under exceptional circumstances 

 is the use of insecticidal sprays to be recommended. 



On the role that fluorescent bacteria play in plant diseases, E. Gbiffon 

 (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], l.'f9 (1909), No. 1, pp. 50-53).— The author 

 claims that Bacillus fluorescens liqucfaciens and B. fluorescens putridus are 

 capable of producing a wet rot or canker of various vegetables, as the former 

 has been found to be the causative agent in a rot of carrots and ruta-bagas, 

 while the anthracnose of tobacco, common in wet years, is attributed to B. 

 (eruginosus, a synonym, according to the. author, of B. fluorescens putridus. 

 Tomatoes and melons gi-own under glass have also been found attacked by a 

 stem canker due to B. fluorescens. 



It is also stated that B. caulivorus, B. hrassicocvorus, and B. cerugihosus can 

 no longer be held as distinct species but are probably only forms of B. fluo- 

 rescens which under favorable environments easily change from a saprophytic 

 to a parasitic mode of existence. 



Prevention of oat and wheat smut, F. L. Stevens (North Carolina Sta. Bui. 

 212, pp. 75-SJi, figs. 2). — This is a popular discussion of oat and wheat smuts, 

 their nature, cause, infection periods, and methods of prevention. 



The formalin treatment is recommended for stinking smut of wheat and oat 

 smut, and the hot-water treatments of Freeman and Johnson (E. S. R., 21. p. 

 455) for the loose smut of wheat. 



Andropogon sorghum (millet or pyaung): Its cultivation and some of its 

 enemies, L. ArsERT (Agr. Jour. India. 5 (1910), No. 3, pp. 222-230, pis. 6). — 

 In a general discussion of the difficulties attending the growing of this crop in 

 Upper Burma two plant pests are especially noted. One is a white-flowered 

 scrophulariaceous root parasite, Striga lutca, which, in times of drought espe- 

 cially, completely destroys entire fields of the millet, and even in years of suf- 

 ficient rainfall affects both the quality and quantity of the grain produced. 

 The other pest is a bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis, which appears annually in 



