disp:ases of plants. 51 



and 11. species of Alteriiaria, Ixith of w iiich are very destrurtive to yonnj? plants in damp 

 soils. The effect of these fungi upon tlu' llax is described, and according to the author 

 they may be carried not only in the soil but in the seed. On this account the selec- 

 tion of pure, clean, mature seed is highly important; and wliere the seed is susjiected 

 of being infected it is recommended that the flaxseed he treated with formal<iehyde 

 by spraying it with a tine spray and raking or shoveling over tlie grain until the 

 surfaces are ecjually moist. If properly applied this can be done without the matting 

 together of the seed. About 5 gal. of solution is required to wet a bushel of flax- 

 seed. Investigations are also reported on the immunity of different races or varie- 

 ties of flax to the disease, as well as the possible effect of the separation and use of 

 different sized seed. 



A study of Phoma betas, J. Henry (Bui. Agr. [Brus.seh'], 19 (190.1), Xo. 1, 

 pp. 15G-1G3, fig 1). — During 1901, in a season of a remarkably wet spring followed by 

 a prolonged summer drought, the l)eets were severely attacked by the dry rot {Plinnia 

 betir). The nature of the attack of the fungus and its effect upon the host are shown. 

 As a result of the disease the sugar content as well as purity are very materially 

 diminished. Beets which contained an average of 15.6 per cent sugar with a purity 

 coefficient of 88 per cent were compared with badly diseased ones in which the sugar 

 content was 10.9 per cent, and the purity coefficient of the juice 71 per cent. The 

 results of analyses of the soils in which these different lots of beets were grown led 

 the author to believe that the disease is largely influenced by the deficiency in cer- 

 tain fertilizers, principally in nitrogenous ones. For the prevention of the disease 

 he recommends the thorough preparation of the soil and subt^oil and the api)lication 

 of fertilizers which will sujiply any deficiency in mineral nutrients. He suggests that 

 particular attention be paid to the presence of an abundance of organic material in 

 the soil. So far as possible, varieties should be selected which are resistant to the 

 disease and which are well adapted to the climatic and soil conditions where grown. 



The protection of cane cuttings during- transportation, A. Howard [lieprint 

 from Inteniat. Sugar Jour., 5 {190S),pp. 1 13-116). — An account is given of exj^eri- 

 ments to test thejBhipping qualities of canes and means for protecting them against 

 disease when shipped to a considerable distance. It was found that l)y treating the 

 cane cuttings with Bordeaux mixture and afterwards packing them in i)ulverized 

 charcoal tht^y could be readily shipped to great distances witliout losing their vitality. 

 If the cuttings and charcoal are kept too dry there Avill be a loss of vitality, but the 

 pnjper amount of moisture has not yet been determined. 



Combating- black rot of cabbage by the removal of affected leaves, F. C. 

 Stewart and H. A. Harding [New York State Sta. Bui. 232, pp. 43-64, pis. 2). — An 

 account is given of some recent field exi^eriments on the treatment of the black rot of 

 cabbage by the prompt removal of affected leaves. This method of treatment was 

 investigated on account of the suggestion made by other investigators as to its being 

 a possible means for the control of the disease. The effect of the black rot, mode of 

 infection and dissemination of the organism are described. The method of treatment 

 was the removal of all diseased leaves once a week from the first appearance of the 

 disease until the eni of the season. The theory upon which this treatment is based 

 is that the bacteria gain entrance to the leaves along their margins or on wounds 

 made by insects, and then pass downward along the fibrovascular bundles into the 

 stem of the plant. The treatment aims at the saving of plants already slightly 

 affected and the ^jrevention of the spread of the disease l)y removal of the organ- 

 ism. Experinients along this line were carried on in 1899, 1900, and 1901, ])ut the 

 principal investigations were made in 1902. A field of cabbage was divided into 

 equal parts an<l the diseased leaves removed from half the rows of 2 varieties, the 

 otiier half-acre remaining as a check. The picking of the leaves began July 22 and 

 was continued until September 16, the total time required being the services of one 

 man for 462 hours. Although the disease was so abundant that on the check plat 



