1054 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A sclerotioid disease of beech roots, H. von Schrenk {Rpt. Mis- 

 souri Bnt. Gard. . 10 {1S99),2>I>- (iJ-70,jjls. 2). — The author reports hav- 

 ing found a large number of small tubercles attached to the fibrous 

 roots of beech trees. The tubercles were of various sizes and shapes, 

 some almost round, others elliptical and A'arying in size from about as 

 large as a small pea to some scarcely visible to the naked eye. Upon 

 examination of the tubercles they were found to consist of a bundle 

 of cylindrical bodies which intertwined. Each was covered and held 

 firmly in place by a membrane or sheath. The main body of the tuber- 

 cle consisted of a large number of small rootlets, each twisted and con- 

 torted and held in place by the fine hyphac. The cause of the forma- 

 tion of these structures is attributed to the stimulus ])rought about by 

 some fungus. No evidence of parasitism was observed, the hyphae 

 simply surrounding the roots without entering the cells. The presence 

 of a large number of small sclerotia. together with the tubercles, sug- 

 gests that the sterile mycelium of the tubercles probably belongs to 

 some Hymenomycete which usually forms sclerotia. 



Chrysanthemum rust, J. C. Arthur {Indicma i^ta. Bui. 86, jjj). 

 Ijf3-lo0). — The occurrence of rust on chrysanthemums was obser\'ed 

 in the fall of 1899 in Indiana. It is easily distinguished from all 

 other diseases that attack the chrysanthemum, as it forms small 

 blisters about the size of a pin head, appearing on the under siu'face 

 of the leaf. These soon break open and expose a dark brown powder, 

 the uredospores. These blisters by coalescing frequently become of 

 considerable size and are occasionall}' found upon the upper surface 

 of the leaves. An experimental study was made by the author to 

 infect a number of related species with the uredospores of this fungus, 

 but it was found to grow only upon the true chrysanthenmm. The 

 fungus, which is known as Puccinia ehrysanthem.1^ appears to })e a 

 native of Japan introduced into ICurope and America thi'ough com- 

 mercial agencies. Thus far no teleutospores have been found and on 

 this account the disease would probably be of easy control. Picking 

 off the di!?eased leaves and the total destruction of badly diseased 

 plants, together with spraying with Bordeaux mixture or potassium 

 sulphid will doubtless keep the disease in check. 



Concerning the rust fungus on chrysanthemums, P. Magnus 

 {Garfenfora, J^O {190U), No. II, j'p. '294-296).- 'V\\i- specific causes of 

 the rust growing on Chrysanthemum indicum have been examined by 

 a number of individuals and their determinations are given. Accord- 

 ing to Massee, the fungus is Puccinia hieracii. Subsequently, the 

 rusts on chrysanthemums have been inv^estigated by Roze, who finds 

 them due to different causes, one of which is designated as TIredo 

 chrysanthemi. For this form, spraying with Bordeaux mixture 

 seems to have had no effect in preventing diseases. In a later publi- 

 cation, Roze describes P\iccinia cJiryxanfhcmi^ which he says is the 

 cause of the rust on chrysanthemums. 



