218 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



developed at all in the lii>ht -colored areas. In leaves severely attacked 

 by the disease, by simply looking- across the leaf depressions may be 

 observed where the light areas occur. The cells of the diseased areas 

 translocate their starch with gTcat difficulty and often become com- 

 pletely gorged. 



The conclusion seems warranted that the tardiness in translocation 

 of starch in the diseased area is due to the abnormal activity of the 

 oxidizing- enzj'ms in these cells, b}^ reducing or weakening- the activity 

 of diastases. 



The inoculation of soil, G. W. Herrick (Mississippi Sta. Rpt. 

 1899^ pj)- ^^r -f-^)- — 1" the autumn of 1898, 3 plats of vetch were sown 

 to note the effect of inoculation of the soil on this crop. The first plat 

 was inoculated b}^ soaking- the seeds in water in which had been stirred 

 soil from a field in which vetches had been previously cultivated. 

 After being thoroughly wetted, the seeds were sown in drills and cov- 

 ered. Plat '1 was retained as a check plat, while phit 8 was inoculated 

 Iw scattering dry dirt from the vetch field in the drills as the seed 

 were sown. 



The following May the plats were cut and carefully weighed, and it 

 was found that plat 1 yielded 61.5 lbs.; plat 2, IS lbs.: and plat 3, 79 

 lbs. of green forage. Pot experiments with vetch were attempted, 

 but the results obtained were contradictory. Phits of crimson clover 

 and alfalfa were sown and treated in the same manner as described for 

 the vetches, but negative results were obtained on account of the non-- 

 germination and poor stand of the plants. 



Annual report of the consulting botanist for 1899, W. Car- 

 RUTHEKS {Jour. Roy. Agr. Soc. Eiujlaixl.^ J. .sr/-., 10 {1899), pt. It-., pp. 

 678-688., figs. 13). — Among the items reported upon by the consulting 

 botanist are investigations on the germination of seeds, weeds, and 

 diseases of plants. During the j^ear the seeds examined were remark- 

 ably free from impurities and the germinations high, although in 

 some cases there was considerable fluctuation. 



On account of injury to stock, investigations were made with a 

 number of plants which are either poisonous or represented to be, and 

 a list of those mentioned include Ranir/iculus acris, R. p>arv>fiorus^ R. 

 ficarla., Celadinc, Arum tnaculatiun., laurels, Nicotiana affinln., Jlera- 

 clemn sphondylimm., Pfunella vulgaris., and Nepeta glecJwma. A num- 

 ber of other phmts are mentioned which were suspected of being- 

 injurious to stock, but which the author doubts having any noxious 

 qualities. 



Among the diseases reported upon were 2 diseases of wheat, one 

 due to Olado.sporluii) herharum, the other to the mildew, Ei'ysiphe 

 graminiK. A field of peas badly infested with Pythium deharyanum. 

 is reported upon, and Ai^cochyta p>isi \\ah proved troublesome on bean 

 crops in a number of places. Attacks of I*lasiiiodiophora hrassicoi are 



