260 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Investigations on the brunissure of plants, V. Ducomet (Ann. 

 itcoleNat. Acjr. MmitpeUler, 11 (1899-1900), j)p. 171-'B83, pis. 3, figs. 

 60). — An historical rcAdew is given of the literature of brunissure and 

 the conclusions of various authors as to its causes are brieily summar- 

 ized. According- to the summary, some authors hold that the disease 

 is due to physiological causes, others to animal or vegetable parasites, 

 while still others claim it is due solely to physical agencies acting upon 

 the cell. 



In the authors' investigations particular attention was paid to the 

 brunissure of the grape. The disease, as characterized by the appear- 

 ance of the different parts of the affected plants, is described at length 

 and the results of a large number of observations and experiments are 

 cited. Differences are noted in the degree of susceptibility of differ- 

 ent races and varieties of grapes to this disease and its occurrence and 

 chai'acterization on a large number of other plants are given. The 

 author concludes that brunissure is not of a parasitic nature but is 

 rather due to physiological changes brought about by various causes 

 such as sudden rising and falling of temperature, heav}' precipitation, 

 mechanical injuries, and abnormal conditions due to organic parasites. 



The disease being due to physiological causes, the author advises 

 attention to the growth and surroundings of the plants as a means for 

 reducing or preventing attacks. 



A stunted growth of vines, L. Ravaz (Ann itcoleNat. A(jr. Mont- 

 pdlicr, 11 (1899-1000), pp. 293-3 U, pis. 6).— The author gives a pre- 

 liminary report upon a peculiar stunted growth of grapevines to which 

 the name court-noue is given. The principal characteristics of this 

 disease is a remarkable shortening of the internodes of the vine 

 attacked. The interior of the stem is discolored, being of a brownish- 

 yellow or dark-brown color. The disease is said to be readily trans- 

 mitted by cuttings and grafts and all affected material should be 

 rejected. Some varieties are more susceptible than others and such 

 should be discarded. 



The parasitism of Phoma reniformis, L. Ravaz and A. Bonnet 

 (Ann. JEcole Nat. Agr. MontpelUer, 11 (1899-1900), pp. 384.-293, ijl. 

 1). — ^The authors review the work of Jackzewsk}' and Spechnew 

 (E. S. R., 11, p. 1061) and take exceptions to the claim that Phoma 

 reiiiformis is a parasite on the grape. The life history of the fungus 

 is given, and experiments covering almost a year are described in 

 which no evidence of parasitism was observed. The fungus is said to 

 occur rather abundantl\^ as a saprophyte, but is whollv unable to pene- 

 trate uninjured tissues. On this account it can not be considered as 

 the primary cause of the very destructive disease of grapes in the 

 Caucasus region. 



T^vo hitherto unkno^vn diseases of Phlox decussata, J. Ritzema- 

 Bos (T'ljdsclir. Plantenziekten, 5(1899), No. 2,pp). 27-32). — The attacks 



