34-8 CONNECTICUT EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT, IQI2. 



the disease in Massachusetts. The black currant seems to be 

 by far the most susceptible of any of the varieties to this dis- 

 ease. On learning of the outbreak at Geneva, we kept watch 

 for this rust in Connecticut, and early in October received 

 leaves of black currants from H. B. Birdsey of Meriden which 

 showed the III stage of the fungus. These currants, originally 

 obtained from outside the state, had been planted in his garden 

 about eight years, but he had not noticed this trouble before, 

 though it may have escaped his attention. This year he noticed 

 it because of the premature defoliation of the currants. 



After locating this rust at Meriden, we visited several nurs- 

 eries, and inspected their currants to see if it occurred there. We 

 also wrote to all the nurseries in the state handling black cur- 

 rants, and requested them to look for the disease on the fallen 

 leaves, as it was, then late in the season, and to send us any 

 suspicious ones. We were not able, ho.wever, to locate the rust 

 in any of these nurseries. As black currants are not handled 

 to any extent by our nurserymen, it is not likely that the dis- 

 ease occurs with them. 



There are no white pines in the immediate vicinity of the 

 rusted currants in Meriden, and Stewart has never found the 

 peridial stage on the white pine at Geneva. This makes it look 

 as if the rust might carry over on the currants in some way 

 without the aid of this stage for reinfection in the spring. In 

 connection with Stewart and Stone, we have started, in the 

 greenhouse, black currants that were last year badly infected, 

 to see if the rust will again appear on them without the aid of 

 the peridial stage. These plants were brought into the green- 

 house in February, 1913, and at this writing, April I5th, although 

 in full leaf, they had as yet shown no signs of the rust. From 

 this it appears as if the fungus did not (at least commonly) 

 carry over on the currants. Possibly we have not learned all 

 about the life history of this fungus. 



EVERGREENS, Various Species. 



DAMPENING-OFF, Rhizoctonia sp. During the past year 

 complaints were received of dampening-off in coniferous seed- 

 beds. At the Station trouble of this kind was also noticed, 

 especially among the white pines. A superficial examination 

 of these plants, which lop over on the ground and finally rot 



