190 



Mycologia 



The way in which smut infects sugar-cane was described by 

 Dastur in the Annals of Botany for July, 1920. It occurs only 

 in young buds and not through the cut ends of setts. The spo- 

 ridia on germinating penetrate the young, thin-walled scale hairs, 

 and within two months a bud thus infected may produce a spore- 

 bearing shoot. Diseased sets will, of course, grow into diseased 

 shoots when planted. 



The mildness of the winter season around Fayetteville, Ar- 

 kansas, has brought forth some unseasonable growths both 

 among the seed- and the spore-bearing plants. It may be of in- 

 terest to note that Plutcus cervinus Fr., a common mushroom of 

 this region, usually found from May until October, was collected 

 on February 8. A number of good-sized, fresh specimens were 

 obtained, some of the pilei measuring 10 centimeters in diameter. 

 The spores appeared normal in size, shape, and color. — H. R. 

 Rosen. 



Cranberry diseases and their control are discussed in a popular 

 way by C. L. Shear in Farmers' Bulletin 1081 of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture. Of the dozen or more dis- 

 eases included, " early-rot," caused by Guignardia Vaccinii Shear, 

 heads the list for destructiveness. Spraying with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture will control' most of these diseases, while large losses due 

 to smothering can be avoided by proper methods and conditions 

 of picking, storing, and handling the fruit. 



Notes on the Thelephoraceae of North Carolina, by W. C. 

 Coker, in the Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society for 

 February, 1921, comprise 51 pages of descriptive matter and 22 

 handsome plates made from photographs and drawings. Aleuro- 

 discus macrodens is described as new. This paper, although deal- 

 ing only with Carolina species, is an excellent introduction to the 

 family for students in any part of the country. 



Some observations on the life-history of Nectria galligena 

 Bres., by Dorothy M. Cayley, appeared in the Annals of Botany 



