768 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



A. orijzx has the power of causing alcohoUc fermentation or of being transformed 

 through any conditions into a yeast, as has been frequently claimed. 



Notes on Peltandra rust, F. H. Blodgett {Science, n. ser., 12 {1900), No. 803, 

 pp. 581, 582). — An abstract is given of a paper in which a rust of Peltandra is 

 described. The disease was first noticed in the New York Botanical Gardens where 

 acme leaves were infested upon nearly every plant. TTsually the upper portion of 

 the petiole was most severely attacked. In the worst cases the midrib and its 

 branches and the petiole nearly to the water, would be covered wdth the rust. In 

 such cases the plants suffered severely from a bacterial rot. The fungus causing this 

 rust is determined as Cxomurus caladii. 



Anew parasite of Polygonatum, A. Jaczewski {Hednngia, 39 {1900), No. 3, 

 Beihefte, p. 81, fg. 1). — Ciilindro.'^pormm komaroui is described. 



Tlie perithecial form of Cercospora cerasella and its development, R. Ader- 

 HOLD {Btr. Thnt. But. Gi'.ml., IS {1900), No. 6, pp. 240-249).— M>jcoi<ph,rrella cerasella 

 is described as the perithecial form of Cercospora cerasella. It is fomid on fallen cherry 

 leaves where it winters. 



The mistletoe as an enemy to orchard and forest trees, E. S. Ztjrn {Prakt. 

 Bl. Pflanzemchutz, 1900, Nos. 3, jjp- 19-21; 5, p>p. 34, 35). 



The resistance of cereal smuts to formalin and hot water, W. Stuart {Proc. 

 Indiana Acad. Sci., 1898, ptp. 64-70) . — Experiments are rejiorted in which the resist- 

 ance of the smuts of wheat and oats to formalin and hot water was tested. Seed of both 

 these cereals w-as subjected to hot water treatment at temperatures ranging from 110 

 to 140° F.; and other lots w-ere soaked in ^ to J per cent solution of the formalin, and 

 the effect of the treatment as shown in the germination of the seed and cultures of the 

 fungus spores is given in tabular form. It appears that the spores are much more 

 easily injured than the grain, either when given the hot water or formalin treatment. 

 The essential feature in either treatment is to bring the solution in contact with the 

 seed for sufiicient time to enable it to reach the smut spores. The advantage possessed 

 by formalin over hot water lies in the greater ease of its application. 



The injurious effects of sulphur upon grapes in jstrong sunlight {Hessische 

 Landif. Ztschr., 70 {1900), No 42, pp. 584-586). — Rather serious injury to the foliage 

 and fruit of grapes is attributed to applications of sulphur during a period of clear, 

 bright days with a rather high temperature. 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



Notes on tlie mosquitoes of the United States, L. O. Howard 



{U. S. Ucpt. Agr.^ Dioia'wn of Entomohxjy Bui. ;^J, a. ser., pj?. 70, 

 jigs. 22). — ^The author discusses the subjects of the abundance of mos- 

 quitoes, Alaskan and other far-northern mosquitoes, length of life of 

 the adult mosquito, life histor}^ of mosquitoes in general, food of adult 

 mosquitoes, and the distance to which mosquitoes can fly. 



Observations were made and experiments conducted to determine 

 how long mosquito larva? can live out of water or in wet mud. Some 

 cases have been reported where mosquito larvae are said to have lived 

 in the muddy bed of dried-up ponds for a period of a week or more. 

 Experiments in glass vessels indicated, however, that the larvae could 

 not live longer than 48 hours in mud. The synoptic tables published 

 in Circular -iO of the Division of Entomology for the identification 

 of mosquitoes in the United States are reproduced. The life history of 

 'Culex is reprinted from Bulletin -i, n. ser. 



