DISEASES OF PLANTS. 1043 



Formalin for oat smut. A. (Joss {JiitUana f>la. Rpt. J90R, pi). 11, i,S). — Atten- 

 tion is CiiUed to tlie valne of formalin for treatment of seed oats for the preven- 

 tion of smut. 



The rust of timothy, F. D. Kkrn {Toncija, 9 < tOOf)), Xo. J, pit. J-.T ) .— The 

 occurrence of rust on timothy is said to have been reported in this country as 

 early as 1.S81 or 1SS2. but it is only in recent years that it has been found in 

 sufficient abundance to attract attention. In 190G timothy rust was found fairly 

 abundant In several localities in New York and in 1!)07 it was also rei)orted 

 from Delaware, West A'irginia, and Canada. In I DOS it was also reported from 

 Michigan and Wisconsin. 



A study of the rust indicates that it is a physiological species of the common 

 Puccinia gramiiiis or P. pociiliformis, as the author considers the species, and 

 it is believed that there is little danger of the rust transferring to timothy from 

 other cereals and grasses. It is thought probable that the disease will become 

 more general in its distribution and may locally do considerable injury, but in 

 spreading it will be limited to passing the summer spore stages on timothy alone. 



The browning- of the bracts of hops due to lime nitrogen, Wagner (Prakt. 

 BI. Pflunzvnhuu v. Scliutz, n. sci:, 6 (If)OS), Xo. 11, pp. 126-129).— X descrip- 

 tion is given of a browning of the bracts of hop strobiles following fertilizer 

 experiments with lime nitrogen that has caused considerable injury. The 

 injury was observed to be confined almost wholly to plants grown in light soils 

 that had received ai)plications of lim.e nitrogen in the spring of the year. 

 Autumn applications were followed with no injury, and the author advises the 

 use of this fertilizer in autumn only. The quality of spring fertilized hops 

 was a little better than where the application was made in the fall of the year, 

 but the risk from the browning is believed to be too great to warrant the use 

 of the fertilizer in the spring. The cause of the unfavorable action when 

 applied in the spring is to be investigated. 



Varieties of potato scab (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 15 {1909), Xo. 10, pp. 

 7'/.''-7.J/, Ills. 2). — Descriptions are given of various forms of scab occurring on 

 potatoes, among them the scab due to mechanical injury, the wart disease 

 or black scab caused by ('hnjxophlyctiH endohiotica, the scab caused by milli- 

 pedes or false wlreworms, the Oospora scab of potatoes, and the form of scab 

 caused by ,Sponf/o.spora .scabies. 



Dry scab of potatoes, G. Massee (Roy. Bot. Gard. Kew, Bui. Misc. Inform., 

 1909, Xo. 1, pp. 16-18, fig. I). — A description is given of the dry scab of pota- 

 toes, due to Spondglocladium atrovirens. The injury is confined to the tubers, 

 and no indication of its presence is suggested by the foliage, which remains 

 unaffected. The fungus causes disfigurement of the tuber, followed by local 

 areas of a dry rot. The iiresence of the fungus is i'(n-ea!ed J)y the occurrence 

 of blackish-olive patches, which soon become depressed below the general sur- 

 face of the tuber, due to the drying and breaking up of the tissues. Frequently 

 only one or two areas are present on a tuber, varying from half an inch to an 

 inch in diameter. 



As the mycelium penetrates a considerable portion of the (uber, if is recom- 

 mended that tubers showing signs of disease should not Iw used for planting, 

 even if the portion obviously Infected has been cut away. 



This disease has been known for a ninuber ()f years, having i»rcviousIy been 

 atiriliuted to /'litllonnicc" ■scirroliDplioriis, 



Potato spraying experiments in 1908, F. C. Stkwakt. (i. T. Fi{i:n( ii. and 

 F. A. SiKKiNK (Xrip York Stale Sid. Bui. Ml, pp. dK).— This bulletin gives the 

 results of the seviMith year's work in jiotato spraying in continuation of the 

 experiments begun in V.)^rl. Twenty-seven separate experiments are rei»ortcd 

 upon. 



