DI8EA8E8 OF PLANTS. . 569 



Numerous can.-.- have been assigned to this disease, but the evidence seems to shovi 

 that it is due to impaired nutrition and that it may be artificially induced in a num- 

 ber of ways. It is believed thai an insufficiency of lime is at the base of the trouble. 

 Experiments with lime and other fertilizers Bho\* thai the disease can be controlled, 

 the best results being obtained where potash salts were used in conjunction with 

 lime, the potash seeming to make the lime more readily available to the plant. 



Acariosis, brunissure, and erinosis, II. I\\i:s i Prog. Agr. el Vit. i Ed. VEst), ?6 

 i 1905), No. SI, />/>. 188-146, pi. I, figs. 6). — Acariose, or "court-nou6," brunissure, and 

 erinose of the grape arc according to the author, all caused by Phytoptus vitis, the 

 different appearances assumed by the host plant being due to differences in varietal 

 susceptibility, weather, etc. 



For treatment the use of sulphur-, lysol, mixtures of soap ami an extract of quassia, 



and soap and tobacco gave g I results, the latter proving the most efficient. The 



summer treatments should be preceded by thorough spraying of the vines in Feb- 

 ruary or March with rather Btrong solutions of lysol, soap and carbolic acid, and soap. 

 carbolic acid, and oil of rape seed. Winter treatment with strong solutions of copper 

 sulphate or iron sulphate would probably be found effective. 



A disease of cherry laurel, E. Raignault (Jardin, 19 i 1905), No. {37, p. 140, 

 figs. •>'). — An account is given of attacks of Coryneum beyerincMi on the cherry laurel, 

 and it is said to also infect the peach, cherry, almond, and apricot. 



For the prevention of the disease the author recoi ends several sprayings during 



the growing season with Bordeaux mixture, Oij the cherry laurel the fungicide is 

 less adherent on account of the smooth surface of the leave-. When occurring abun- 

 dantly this blotch destroys the ornamental value of these shrubs by causing their 

 defoliation. 



Report of the botanist, .1. Burtt-Dayy {Transvaal Dept. Agr. Ann. Rpt. 1904, 

 pp. $61-880, /'/•-■. //, maps 5). — In a report of the botanist for the year ending .lime 30, 

 1904, notes are given on a number of plants of economic importance, together with a 

 record of investigations on stock ranges, noxious weeds, plant diseases, and plants 

 poisonous and injurious to stock. 



Among the diseases diseussed particular attention is devoted to the coffee leaf 

 blight due to Hem.Ui ia vastatrix. This fungus has almost devastated the coffee planta- 

 tions in the districts examined. Attention is called to the fact that an indigenous 

 species, //. ir<,<,</ii, is quite common on two South African shrubs, Vangueria infa'usta 

 and V. latifolia. These two -pedes of fungi are so closely related that it is believed 

 that the indigenous species could readily attack coffee plants if opportunity was 



offered. 



Notes on the use of combined fungicides, I.. Augrand ( Rev. VU., 24 i 1905), 

 No. 606, pp. 105-107 I. —In seeking a combined fungicide foruse against the powdery 



and downy mildew o\ grapes, the author carried on experiments with a number of 

 mixtures, and the results obtained are briefly given. 



Sulphur in a dry state is said to act too slowly, and to obtain a more rapid libera- 

 tion of sulphurous acid a number of mixtures were tested. Calcium bisulphite and 

 sodium hyposulphite were each added to Bordeaux mixture at the rate of 500gm. 

 per hectoliter. Both mixtures badly burned the foliage and considerable injury 

 followed their use even when diluted to a considerable extent. 



Later the author tried a mixture composed of Bordeaux mixture and an alkaline 

 polysulphid with success. The formula and directions for making this mixture arc 

 as follows: Copper sulphate 4 kg. and water 100 liters, polysulphid 2 kg. and water- 

 100 liters, and lime 2 kg. and water 25 liters. After a thorough solution, pour the 

 lime water into the polysulphid solution, and this mixture in turn into the copper 

 solution, stirring thoroughly. This mixture is said to be very effective in preventing 

 both forms of mildew, is quite adhesive, and acts as a stimulant to the foliage, as 

 judged from the dark green color of the plants. 



