DISEASES OF PLANTS. 1087 



it is therefore preferable to add the liquid in (> portions also for oats under such 

 conditions. 



The author shows that the effect of preliminarj' treatment is restricted, and the 

 increase in yield lessened, by a too short period of germination in the seed grain. 

 Seed sown 1 to 4 days after the treatment l)y the hot-water method gave the follow- 

 ing results, the yield from seed not treated being placed at 100: One day after treat- 

 ment, oats, 106.4; barley, 107.9; 2 days after treatment, 116.1 and 111.0; 4 days after 

 treatment, 125.7 and 113.0, for oats and barley, respectively. 



The effect of only a few hours "fore-culture " of seed subjected to Ceres treatment 

 proved to be unfavorable, the average yield obtained being 95.9 against 100 for seed 

 not treated and 128.9 for treated seed which was sown after 4 days' "fore-culture." 

 From the information at hand tlie author is of the opinion that enzyms will develop 

 apiireciably in seetl grain even after a few hours' treatment, but the potassium sul- 

 phid of the Ceres liquid coating the seeds appropriates the available oxygen in the 

 air and in the soil interstices directly after sowing, thus placing the treated seed 

 somewhat at a disadvantage in the case of a too brief period of preliminary treatment. 



Experiments with treatment of seed grain with a weak extract of malt gave an 

 mcrease in the yields obtained at harvest time, in comparison with seed treated with 

 water only, showing that the extract produced an increased vegetative energy, and 

 indicating that the advantage observed in the "fore-culture" method comes from a 

 formation of ferment during the progress of this culture. 



The method of "fore-culture" proposed by the author consists in treating the seed 

 grain with 25 per cent of its weight of Ceres solution, this being added in 6 portions 

 and the grain shoveled over repeatedly once or twice a day for 4 to 5 days. By this 

 time the germ will be just ready to break through the seed coat. With the quantity 

 of liquid applied there is little danger that it will grow much longer, so as to render 

 difficult the sowing by grain drill or otherwise. Studies of various phases of the 

 "fore-culture" method, especially as regards its practical application, will be con- 

 tinued by the author. — v. w. woll. 



Oat smut and its prevention, R. A. Mooee ( Wisconsm Sla. Bui. Ill, j^p. 10, 

 figs. 2). — Oat smut prevails largely throughout the State and has caused great losses, 

 especially during the last 3 years. An inspection tour was made for the pur2:)ose of 

 learning how extensively the formaldehyde or other treatment was employed by 

 farmers in preventing this disease. Of the farms visited on this tour 87 treated their 

 seed grain for smut and 245 did not. The disease is checked during wet seasons. 



In treating seed the author recommends 1 pint of formalin to 36 gal. of water. 

 This is sufficient to treat 30 bu. of oats. The oats should be left in the solution for 

 10 minutes. Barley smut may be prevented by a similar immersion in a solution 

 containing 1 pint of formalin to 20 gal. of water. 



Occurrence of plant diseases in Vermont in 1903, L. R. Jones and W. J. 

 Morse {Vermont Sta. Rpt. 1003, jyp- 153-155). — The early part of the season of 1903 

 was unusually dry, and this drought was followed by copious rains and cool cloudy 

 weather. These conditions affected the time of appearance and prevalence of fungus 

 diseases. Apple scab was less injurious than usual. Early potato blight did little 

 damage until about September 1, The application of insecticides and fungicides was 

 less effective than during normal seasons. A soft rot of turnip, onion mildew, and 

 club root of cabbage were quite injurious. 



Potato diseases and tlieir remedies, L. R. Jones and W. J. Moese ( Vermont 

 Sla. Rpt. 1903, pp. 155-168). — The results obtained during 14 years' experiments 

 with potato diseases at the station indicate that the Bordeaux-arsenical mixture is 

 superior to any other remedy. As a rule 2 applications have been found profitable. 

 In 1903, however, the development of potato blight was checked by one application 

 on account of the late appearance of the disease. One application of Bordeaux- 



32846— No. 11— O^^l 5 



