DISEASES OF PLANTS. 257 



rate of •1,000 lbs, per acre; the second plat was left as a check, and the 

 third plat was treated with kainit at the rate of 400 lbs. per acre. The 

 record obtained showed less blighted plants where the lime was 

 employed than on the other plats. 



In another experiment 2 plats of the same area were planted with 

 seedlings grown on uninfected soil and in a greenhouse in which no 

 seedlings had been grown. In one of the plats where blighted toma- 

 toes had been grown the previous year, lime at the rate of 4,000 lbs. 

 per acre was added. The other plat received no treatment, and a 

 comparison of the yield of the 2 plats showed but slight difference in 

 the percentage of blighted plants. 



Another series of plats were tested the soil of which had never 

 borne tomatoes. The first plat was planted with seedlings grown on 

 infected soil and was treated with kainit at the rate of 400 lbs. per 

 acre. Plat 2 was similarl}^ planted but not treated. The third plat 

 was similar in all respects except it received lime at the rate of 4,000 

 lbs. per acre. The fourth plat was set with seedlings grown on unin- 

 fected soil and treated with lime. In this series of experiments only 

 1 plant was blighted, and that was found on plat 3. The author states, 

 as a result of his experiments, that "infection is not -obtained in the 

 greenhouse and that rotation of the crop is a benefit and probably 

 necessary." 



The relationship existing bet-ween the asparagus rust and the 

 physical properties of the soil, G. E. Stone and R. E. Smith (J/^/.y- 

 .s((r]i.i[xetiii IlatcJi Sta. Rpt. 1899, pjj. 61-73). — Attention was previously 

 called by the authors (E. S. R., 11, p. 159) to the probable relationship 

 existing between dry seasons and the occurrence of the summer or 

 injurious stage of the rust. Continued observations have been made 

 on this subject, and with but one exception the authors report that 

 the rust has never been observed by them or reported to them except 

 in soils which were sandy and possessed little water-retaining prop- 

 erties. Mechanical analyses of a number of soils of the State are 

 given with their water-retaining capacitj^. The conclusion is reached 

 that injury by the summer stage of the asparagus rust is due to a weak- 

 ened condition of the plants from growing on dry soils during seasons 

 of extreme drought. The practice of spraying for the prevention of 

 the rust is not considered productive of good results. If the devel- 

 opment of the rust is due to lack of moisture in the soil, it seems that 

 it will be necessarj^ to resort to soil of finer texture for the cultivation 

 of the crop and the practice of irrigation wherever possible. 



Fungus diseases of the roots of fruit trees {Jour. Bd. Agr. 

 [Londoh], 7 {1900), No. 1, j^>p. ,10-16, jjI. 1). — A number of young 

 fruit trees were submitted to the board of agriculture, and it was found 

 that they were apparently dying from the attacks of a fungus on the 

 roots. The fungus belongs to the genus Rosellinia and threateiBS to 

 8058— No. 3 5 



