NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 
481 
contents without cell walls. According to the quality of the symplasm, the 
development of new individual cells from this stage follows different lines. In 
all cases at first " regenerative units " become visible. These increase in size, 
turning into "regenerative bodies," which later, by germination or stretching, 
become cells of normal shape. 
A process of " conjunction " has also been observed in some cases. Bacteria 
reproduce by fission, but also by the production of " gonidia." 
The life cycle of each species studied is composed of several subcycles showing 
wide morphological and physiological differences. These are connected with each 
other by the symplastic stage. 
The discovery of the full life cycles of bacteria will be of immense importance 
in many problems in agricultural and medical sciences. 
The paper is illustrated with an interesting figure showing graphically the 
life cycle of Bacillus azobacter, and a series of micro-photographs of the several 
types of Bacillus azobacter, B. sublilis, B. bulgaricum, B. fluorescens ; Sarcina flava, 
and Streptococcus laciis. 
A short bibliography is appended. — A. B. 
Bananas. By W. J. Alden {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxvi. pp. 953-964; 
9 figs.). — The banana requires moisture, good drainage, and abundant nourish- 
ment. A suitable supply of artificial manure to the acre would be 4 J cwt. of super- 
phosphate, 1 J cwt. potassium sulphate, and 3 cwt. of dried blood or 2 cwt. of 
ammonium sulphate. If it is difficult to obtain potassium sulphate, substitute 
27 cwt. of wood ashes. This should be applied two weeks before the other 
fertilizers. — S. E. W. 
Bean, Kidney, An Anthraenose Resistant. By M. F. Barrus {Phytopathology, 
v - P- 3°3> Nov. 1915). — The author has found a variety, known as " Wells' 
Red Kidney," which remains uninfected or is only slightly infected by the 
fungus Colletotrichum Lindemuthianum when growing among others badly 
attacked. All strains of the fungus (which the author has shown to vary 
in infective power) equally fail to produce any considerable amount of disease 
when inoculated into this variet}^. — F. J. C. 
Beet, Curly-top Of. By R. E. Smith and A. Boncquet {Phytopathology, v. 
pp. 103-108, Apr. 1915 ; figs.). — The experiments of the authors confirm the 
relation between the curly-top of the sugar-beet and the leaf-hopper, Eutettix 
tenella. The attack upon the leaf is followed by phloem necrosis, and often later 
the formation of wound-healing cells in the same region. The trouble is trans- 
missible by grafting, and an organism resembling Bacillus Dianthi has been isolated 
from the lesions. The bacillus, when inoculated into the plant, has not, however, 
reproduced the disease, and it therefore remains doubtful whether the disease is 
due to it. — F. J. C. 
Beet Scab, Some Observations on Ordinary. By B. F. Lutman and H. F. 
Johnson {Phytopathology, v. pp. 30-34, Feb. 1915 ; figs.). — The organism 
producing scab in beet is identical with that which produces scab in potatos, 
viz. Actinomyces chro mo genus, but, while in the potato the lesions are only skin- 
deep, those in the beet are larger and more bulging, and the brown outer portion 
may be wiped off exposing the uncoloured cork tissue below. Figures illustrate 
the production of these bulging scabs. The different strains of Actinomyces 
isolated from different roots of beet and tubers of potato possessed different 
infective powers. — F. J. C. 
Bitter-pit (Stippen and Spray Injury). By C. H. Crabill and H. E. Thomas 
{Phytopathology, vi. pp. 51-54; Feb. 1916). — Bitter-pit (called "stippen" in 
America, and known also as stipr)enflecken, apple fruit-spot, Baldwin fruit-spot, 
Jonathan-spot, and brown-spot), is described, and the results of various experi- 
mental attempts to produce it are detailed. The authors conclude that " these 
depressed, highly coloured areas of skin underlaid by a corky mass of dead, 
brown cells, may be produced in several ways, viz., by bruising, by insect puncture, 
by injected poisons, by insufficient water, or by any other agent which may kill 
a few ceils before the apple is full grown." The results also show that stippen 
is " almost certainly not caused by spray materials as they are commonly applied." 
F. C. 
Bitter-pit. By G. P. Darnell-Smith {Agr. Gaz. N.S.W. vol. xxvii. pp. 279- 
281). — Bitter-pit is not due to a parasite nor to spraying with lead arsenate. 
Young trees are specially liable to it. Excessive pruning and poor drainage are 
favourable conditions for its development. — 5. E. W. 
vol. xlii. 2 1 
