484 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
From these results and from data obtained with many other plants it is 
concluded that cane sugar is produced, generally in a predominant proportion, 
in the leaf of all plants, whatever be the form (cane sugar, starch, inulin, or dex- 
trose) in which the sugars are finally stored. — /. E. W. E. H. 
Carbon Bisulphide, The Relation of, to Soil Organisms and Plant Growth. 
By E. B. Fred (Jour. Agr. Res. vol. vi. No. 1, April 1916, pp. 1-20 ; 2 plates). — 
As a result of his experiments the author concludes that the addition of carbon 
bisulphide (CS 2 ) to the soil exerts a decided effect on the organisms in the soil. 
A temporary reduction is at first observed in the number of micro-organisms, 
followed by an enormous multiplication of bacteria, and a large increase in the 
by-products of soluble nitrogen and sulphur. 
Carbon bisulphide also improves the growth of buckwheat, oats, and mustard. 
In non-acid soils carbon bisulphide is most beneficial to sulphur crops, e.g. 
mustard ; while on peaty soils it causes an increased growth of red clover. 
In sand cultures with soluble plant food, carbon bisulphide favours the growth 
of certain plants. — A. B. 
Carnation Wilt or Crown-rot Disease Caused by Fusarium sp. By P. A. 
Van der Bijl (Ann. Econ. Biol. ii. p. 267, Apr. 1916 ; pi.). — The symptoms of 
the disease here described are the death of the lower leaves, which turn upwards 
at the sides and become of a sickly white colour, while the whole of the leaves 
are of more upright growth than is normal ; the upper leaves appear shrivelled 
and the plant soon dies ; the bark easily separates from the wood and the stem 
easily breaks away at the collar when pulled, the wood being brownish in colour. 
A fungus which is fully described, belonging to the genus Fusarium, has been 
isolated, and when inoculated into healthy carnations reproduced the disease. 
The infection appears to come from the soil, and the methods of control suggested 
are (1) propagation from healthy plants only ; (2) the avoidance of infected soil ; 
(3) the pulling up and destruction by fire of diseased plants. Soil treatment 
with formalin gave no benefit, but treatment with quicklime produced some 
beneficial result. — F. J. C. 
Cercospora Beticola, Climatic Conditions as Related to. By V. W. Pool and 
M. B. McKay (Jour. Agr. Res. vol. vi. No. 1, April 1916, pp. 21-60 ; 2 plates, 
10 figs). — Climatic conditions bear an important relation to the vitality and 
development of Cercospora Beticola (a fungus attacking growing sugar beets, 
Beta vulgaris). When exposed to outdoor conditions, the conidia die in from 
one to four months ; but if kept dry, they can live nearly eight months. The 
sclerotia, however, are more resistant, for they can live through the winter 
when but slightly protected, and become a source of infection for the succeeding 
crop. 
Thermal tests with cultures show (a) that exposure to constant temperatures 
of 35 0 and 3 6° C. is fatal to the growth of the fungus ; (b) that growth occurred 
when cultures after exposure for three days to either of these temperatures were 
changed to 30-8° C, and also when they were held at either for eight hours and 
then at 20 0 C. for sixteen hours ; (c) that a temperature of 40-5° C. was fatal 
in all combinations tested. 
Temperature and relative humidity influence the production of conidia 
and infection in much the same way. — A. B. 
Chamaedorea nana (Bot. Mag. t. 8652). — Costa Rica. Nat. Ord. Palmaceae, 
tribe Areceae. Shrub, 1-2 feet high. Leaves, 2 -fid, 8 inches long. Flowers 
loosely spicate in a racemose manner, minute, green. — G. H. 
Changing Sex of the Papaw. By the Editor of the Queensland Agricultural 
Journal (Qu. Agr. Jour. June 1916, p. 342). — The method of changing the sex 
of the male papa^w tree by cutting it down to about three feet from the ground 
was accidentally proved in a garden at Milton this season. The owner cut down 
three male trees and inserted a female shoot on top of each. Owing, probably, 
to the very dry weather, all the shoots died, and two of the trees were rooted out. 
The third was left, and it sent out two strong shoots about a foot below the 
top. These shoots bore female flowers, and three fruits matured, one of them 
remaining on the tree last May (as shown in an illustration). — C. H. H. 
Cherries and Prunes, Handling and Shipping. By H. J. Ramsey (U.S.A. 
Dep. Agr., Bull. 331, 28 pp.; 11 figs.). — Experiments in preservation of fruit 
during transit to market. — E. A . Bd. 
