270 BACTERIA IN RELATION TO PLANT DISEASES. 
Remarks.—Datura stramonium resisted. Local signs were obtained on the watermelon 
but there was no general infection of the plant. Local and thenconstitutional signs appeared 
on the cucumbers, on Cucurbita foetidissima, C. californica, Benincasa cerifera and on the 
little melon, Cucumis melo var. dudaim. The old and young cucumber proved equally 
subject to this desease. 
The bitter plant which I have called Cucurbita californica was grown from seeds sent 
to Mr. Gilbert Hicks by Prof. J. W. Toumey of Arizona. It came to me unnamed and I 
had much difficulty in classifying it. The plant was finally determined for me by Dr. J. N. 
Rose of the U. S. National Herbarium. 
INOCULATIONS OF APRIL 4, 1896. 
Four vines of Melothria scabra, three of cucumber, one of Echinocystis lobata, one of 
watermelon and two of Cucumis erinaceus were inoculated with a pure culture of Bacillus 
tracheiphilus taken from tube 1, March 30. A big loopful of the bacterial slime was put on 
one leaf of each plant and pricked in with numerous fine punctures, using a small sharp 
steel needle. In some cases an additional loop of the slime was afterwards put on over the 
pricks which were protected from direct sunshine. The rods in this tube were mostly in a 
state of active motility as determined by examination in a hanging drop. Inoculations 
in each case were made on the blade of the leaf and were very thorough. 
(282.) Melothria scabra (from Mexico). Up to April 13 there were no signs. The eleventh day 
there was a yellowing of the tissue about the pricks, but no wilt of the blade. Two days later there 
was little change (the weather for the past six days had been very hot). The twenty-fourth day 
the pricked leaf had shriveled but the rest of the plant was normal. On June 16 the plant was 
still alive the inoculation having failed to kill it. On June 25 (82 days) there was still no result 
other than the local injury. 
(283.) Melothria scabra, There were no signs until the eleventh day. At that time a very little 
of the tissue in the pricked area was dead (1 to 2 sq. mm.) but there was no general wilt of the leaf. 
‘Two days later the pricked leaf was yellower but not wilted. The twenty-fourth day the pricked 
leaf had shriveled but none of the others showed any trace of the wilt. On June 16 the plant was 
still living. The inoculations failed to induce constitutional signs. 
(284.) Melothria scabra. On April 13 the plant was normal. The eleventh day the leaf-blade 
was yellowish green and puffed out where pricked. Two days later the pricked leaf was yellow 
around the pricks but not wilted. The twenty-fourth day the pricked leaf which had shown itself 
very resistant at first, had shriveled. The other leaves were normal. June 16 the plant was still 
living and did not show any constitutional signs. 
(285.) Melothria scabra. This plant behaved like the preceding. ‘The inoculation did not harm 
the plant beyond the pricked leaf. 
(286.) Common Cucumber. No record earlier than April 13. On that day there was wilt on 
one side of the leaf around the pricks. Two days later the whole blade of the pricked leaf was droop- 
ing. The thirteenth day the whole of the pricked leaf-blade had wilted, also two leaves above and 
one leaf below. The petioles were turgid. The twenty-fourth day the plant was dead. 
(287.) Common Cucumber. No record earlier than April 13. On that day there were no signs 
of the disease, but 2 days later there were a few square centimeters of wilted tissue in and around 
the pricks. The thirteenth day the whole of the pricked blade was wilted. The leaves above and 
below were normal. The twenty-fourth day the stem was still green, but the leaves had wilted. 
(288.) Common Cucumber. The ninth day the pricked leaf was normal, but 2 days later there 
was wilt of a few square centimeters in and around the pricked area. The thirteenth day the whole 
of the pricked leaf had wilted. The leaves above and below were normal. The twenty-fourth day 
the plant was dead. 
(289.) Echinocystis lobata. No record earlier than April 13. The afternoon of that day there 
was wilt of the tip of the leaf, i. ¢., of the tissue in and around the pricked area. ‘There was only a 
slight change the following noon. The eleventh day most of the pricked leaf was turgid. The wilted 
portion had dried out and apparently the disease had come to a stop. ‘Two days later there was no 
increase of the wilt and the greater part of the pricked leaf was normal. The twenty-fourth day the 
plant was growing rapidly and had recovered. On June 16 the plant was still living. It had made 
a long growth and blossomed. Only a small part of the pricked leaf succumbed. 
