DISEASES OF PLANTS. 845 



On the rubber extracted from the latex of Euforbia candelabro, O. Re- 

 BUFFAT {Atti li. 1st. Incnrof/g. Xapoli, 6. ser., 59 (1907), p. 89). — According to 

 analyses made by the autlutr, the latex of Euforbia caudduhro, which plant 

 grows ai)iindantly in Eritrea, Africa, contains from 40 to no i)er cent of dry 

 rnliber which coniiiares favoraltly in (luality with the best grades. 



Packing Para rubber seed for export, T. W. Main {A(/r. liitJ. Htmits and 

 Fed. Malay States, 7 iHm), No. 11, pp. o'tS, 5.'/9).— The Botanic Gardens at 

 Singapore have been highly snccessful in exporting large quantities of Para 

 rubber seed packed in burnt rice husk. A layer of burnt rice husk is put in ithe 

 bottom of a tin box and alternate layers of seed and husk are added until the 

 box is full. The rice husk is slightly moistened before packing to keej) the 

 seeds in a fresh state. The box is not soldered for fear of excessive moisture 

 collecting inside. 



Of 10,800 Para seeds packed in this manner and shipped to Hritish (Juiana. 

 G4.4 per cent germinated after being packed a little over 03 days. A much 

 larger similar shipment later on gave a germination of approximatelj' 80 per 

 cent. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Report on economic mycology, K. S. Salmon {Jour, f^outheaftt. Agr. Col. 

 Wye, 1907, .Yo. Hi, pp. 267-S32, pis. 23). — Notes are given on the gooseberry 

 mildew {Spho'rothcca mors-uva;), brown rot of cherries {Sclerotinia frudi- 

 gena), cherry leaf scorch (Gnomonia erythrostoma), apple scab (Fusidadium 

 d^indriticum) , crown gall of alfalfa {JJrophlydis alfalfce), and other diseases. 

 The effect of the different fungi on the host plants is described, and, so far as 

 known, itreventive treatments are reconnnended. 



In connection with the alfalfa disease, the author states that the disease was 

 tirst observed in England in 1906. Experiments were carried on in which a 

 number (»f badly diseasetl alfalfa plants covered with galls were obtainetl from 

 the locality where the disease was first noticed, and these galls were kept dry 

 yi the laboratory through the winter. Later a number of the galls were soaked 

 in water and ground in a mortar, and this material used for inoculating well- 

 grown i)Otted plants of alfalfa, beets, mangels, and potatoes. Control pots 

 were kept of each kind of plant by the side of the inoculated ones. The test 

 plants were inoculated twice during the season, first when the growth was 

 beginning to be active and later when the plants had attained full growth for 

 the season. In November, when all the plants were examined, 5 out of of 

 the inoculated alfalfa plants were infested with galls, and in 2 cases the attack 

 of the fungus had been so active as to destroy the plants. No formation of 

 galls was ob.served on the control i)lants. or cm the inoculated or control jilants 

 of mangels, beets, or potatoes. 



The report concludes with a discussion on the occurrence of the gooseberry 

 mildew (N. niors-ura) in England and the need for legislation to prevent its 

 spH'ad. 



On the occurrence of diseases and insect injuries on cultivated plants in 

 1907, U. ScnANDKR (.1////. Kaiser WiUidms Inst. Landic. liromherg, 1 (1908), 

 \o. I, pp. 122, pis. .7, figs. 10, maps J).— I)escrii)tive notes are given on the di.s- 

 oases and insect injuries observed on cultivated plants in Posen and West 

 Prussia during 1007, the data l>eing groui)ed according to the host iilants, as 

 cereal.s, root crops, forage plants, orchard and small fruits, vegetal)lcs. and 

 forest plants. In addition to fungus and in.sect pests and their injuries, the 

 author descrilu-s the injurious action of various meteorological phenomena, 

 paying particular atteutiou to tlie injury foUowlug the wintering of cereals. 



