1903] CURRENT LITERATURE 147 
White rot. 
IN A SUMPTUOUS VOLUME of 300 pages, embellished by 24 elegant 
double colored plates, the Hungarian Department of Agriculture has pub- 
lished a detailed account of Dr. Gy. de Istvanffi’s studies on the white rot of 
the grape (Coniothyrium Diplodiella).3 The first part of the work is devoted 
to a minute description of the development of the disease, and the reactions 
induced in the host plant by the fungus. Of the latter the author dis- 
tinguished four stages or degrees of injury occurring on the stems of Ameri- 
can vines. The most interesting of these is the phenomenon termed ‘“com- 
plete girdling” which is described at great length. The results produced 
are similar to the effects of artificial girdling. Further, the results of studies 
of the fungus in cultures and of artificial infections are described. 
The most interesting part of the work is that which deals with the effects 
of various toxic substances on the fungus. A few examples are briefly given 
here. Vigorous mycelium from pure cultures was — ha sees by being 
immersed for 24 hours in a 2 per cent. copper sulfat ution, or in Bordeaux 
mixture made of 2 per cent. copper sulfate and 2 per cent. lime. When 
again transferred to nutrient solution the mycelium developed fruit in 18 to 
20 days. On the other hand 2 per cent. cuprammonia or a mixture containing 
0.192 per cent. Ca (HSO3;), and 0.018 per cent. SO, proved fatal. 
Again, parts of stems covered with pycnidia were plunged in various 
mixtures with a view of killing the spores in the pycnidia. When immersed 
in this way for 24 hours in a mixture of 0.288 per cent. Ca(HSO;), and 0.04 
per cent. SO, the spores were killed. The same results were obtained with 
Io per cent. sulfuric acid and with 10 per cent. sulfate of iron. When the 
stems were merely sprinkled with the same liquids the spores remained 
uninjured. 
Further, spores developed in must containing 1 per cent. copper sulfate 
‘solution, only slightly in 2 per cent. solution, and not at all in a 3 per cent, 
0.3 per cent. solution of the calcium sulfite-sulfurous acid mixture ab 
fatal. These experiments were performed with a view of finding a met 
of combating the disease. The effect of such easily soluble and highly 
poisonous substances as the sulfurous acid mixture on living vines remains 
‘Still to be determined. 
It is remarkable that a work treating a serious fungous disease from an 
mainly upon theoretical considerations and are for the most part impracti- 
‘cable, when not wholly at variance with long established principles of con- 
trolling fungous diseases. 
3 ISTVANFFI, ii DE , Etudes sur le rot livide de la vigne (Coniothyrium Diplo- 
diella). Ann. Ins Daa eatin Royal Hongrois vol. 2. pp. vii+ 288, figs. 72, 
pls. 24, double, ied d. Budapest: Publications du Ministre Royal de l’Agriculture 
de Hongrie. 1902 
