DISEASES OF PLANTS. 947 



proposed for it. The inoculation exiit^Mnicnts witli tins funj^ns on oats failed lo 

 develoj) any pustules. 



A study was made of tlie coffee rust (Ifoiiilria ra>iiatii.r), which is said to 

 have practically ruined the coffee industry of the Colony within the last 10 

 years. It has been suggested that the species IL uoodii, which occurs on native 

 South African shrubs, might possibly affect coffee, but inoculation experiments 

 have failed to show that this species would grow on coffee or that the coffee 

 rust would infect the host plants of H. looodii. A new species of Hemileia, 

 which is parasitic on another shrub, has been recently discovered, but inocula- 

 tion experiments failed to infect the coffee plant with that rust. 



Notes are given on the occurrence of the downy mildew of grapes, which 

 threatens to become troublesome in Southern Africa ; on the bitter pit of apples, 

 upon which a report has been prepared, but which is withheld from publication 

 until additional experiments are completed; and upon the locust fungus. Inves- 

 tigations on the locust fungus have shown that no fatal effects can be attributed 

 to the fungus Muvor critiosus, so far as locusts are concerned, the fungus 

 probably lieing a purelj saprophytic one that was not distinguished by the 

 original cultivators from Kiiiintsa gnjUi, a true parasite. 



Report of veg-etable patholog-ist, H. Tryon (Ann. Rpt. Dept. Agr. and Stock 

 IQuccHfyland], lUOl-S, pp. 8^-^.^ ) .—Notes are given on a number of diseases 

 w'hich have been under observation during the year covered by the report. 

 Among those discussed are a rust of alfalfa, due to Uromyces striatus; a tobacco 

 spot disease, caused by Ccrcospora raciborskii, which is said to impair the value 

 of the tobacco crop, and so far as known occurs only in Australia and Java ; a 

 leaf blast of sisal hemp that is due to sudden meteorological changes; a disease 

 of oranges caused by the fungus Mycocopron sp., which involves the rind of the 

 fruit, causing it to be covered with minute black specks; and a disease of grapes 

 caused by the fungus Strumella ritis. 



An account of the inspection work cariied on under the Diseases in Plants 

 Act of 1896 completes the report. 



Annual report of the government mycologist, 1907, W. J. Gallagher 

 (.4 .or. Bill. Straits and Fed. Malay ^states. 7 (l!WS). \o. 12. pp. 5 8S-5 90 ).— Br \et 

 notes are given on the root disease of Para rubber trees due to Fomcs scmitofi- 

 tus ; a bacterial disease of mangosteens, in which 2.'") i)er cent of the fruits were 

 attacked: a disease of rice due to IldinlnthoxporUim sp., etc. 



The wood-destroying fungi, J. Schorstkin (Separate from Zt.schr. Ostrrr. 

 Ingen. u. Architrkten Ver., 60 (1908), No. .'/.)-.'/6\ /)/). 7, figs. 22).— An illustrated 

 account is given of some of the more common wood-destroying fungi, 22 species 

 being noted that occur on dead or living trees and 7 species which attack tim- 

 ber in houses and other structures. 



The destruction of fungi by grain-drying apparatus, 11. T^ano (JUiis. 

 Landir. Ztg., 2S ( J90S), Xo. 70, pp. 603, 60.)). — A description is given of a modi- 

 fied seed treatment for the prevention of smut of cereals. 



The seed after Ix'ing soaked for (5 to 12 hours in water at ordinary tempera- 

 ture is i)lunged in hot water or sub.iecte<l to air heated to 00° (\ in a drying 

 apparatus. This treatment is said to destroy the fungus spores, but in no way 

 to injure the see<l. P.arley treiitetl in this manner gave but 2.r) smutted plants 

 ns comj'ared with 2.140 on an etpial area the seed for which was treatwl with 

 formalin aii<l 2,7.'!."» smutted pl.ints where no i)reliniinai'y treatment was giveti 

 the seed. 



A successful experiment in combating the smut of barley. L. Ki'iii.K (Illiis, 

 Landir. 'Atg., ,.'S i I9()S). \ o. t!7. pp. .'>7s. .77.'M. — A descri|itioM is given of experi- 

 ments made to test the hot-air treatment for the prevention of smuts of wheat 

 and barley. 



