90 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
persimmon, beech, etc. ; and Ceratostomella spp., which cause a blue 
coloration in various Coniferse. The hyphae of these fungi were 
traced in the different tissues, and their effect on the host observed. 
In practice it has been found that blued wood is apt to fail while under- 
going steam bending. A. L. S. 
Study on Hydrotropic Bending 1 in Phycomyces nitens. — Heinrich 
Walter (. Zeitschrift Bot., 1921, 11, 673-718, 6 figs.). The author 
has followed up Blaauw’s study on the influence of light, by correspond- 
ing observations on the influence of moisture. The stalk of Phycomyces 
nitens is extremely susceptible to such influence, and the amount of 
curvature varies according to the amount of moisture, etc., present. 
Old and weak stalks are most easily affected. The author gives a long- 
discussion on the significance of the facts. A. L. S. 
Edible and Poisonous Fungi/ — A. Maublanc (Paul Lechevalier , 
1921, Paris , pp. ciii, 110, col. pis. 96, 80 figs.). A short and clear account 
both scientific and popular, of fungi that are fit for food and those that 
are definitely harmful. The writer outlines the general characters of 
fungi, their geographical distribution, locality and habitat, with the 
season of growth. There is also a general classification, and accounts 
of the nature of the poisonous species, advice as to the collection and 
preparation of edible forms, with a note on their culture. The more 
special descriptions accompany the coloured plates. An index of 
French, German, English, Italian and Spanish popular names is 
appended. A. L. S. 
Parasite on Cupressus spp. in S. Africa. — A. M. Bottomley 
(S. African Journ. Sci. 1919, 15 , 613-7, 4 pis. ; see also Bull. Agric „ 
Intell. PL Diseases Rome, *1919, 11 , 401). The parasite caused a 
disease on young plants of Cupressus. Three fungi were found : 
Pestalozzia sp., Phoma sp., and a second Phoma with large fusiform 
spores which was proved by inoculation experiments to have caused 
the disease. The same Phoma has been described on Juniperus spp. 
A. L. S. 
Two new Sclerotinia Diseases. — B. F. Dana (. Phytopathology , 1921, 
11 , 225-8, 6 figs.). The writer describes from nature and from culture 
experiments two new parasitic fungi ; Sclerotinia gr eg aria on leaves and 
fruits of Amelanchier Cusickii and S. demissa on Prunus demissa. 
A. L. S. 
Studies in the Valsa Apple-canker in New Mexico. — Leon H. 
Leonian (. Phytopathologist , 1921, 11, 236-43). The canker attacks the 
twigs, the branches, and the main trunks of young and old apple-trees. 
The cause of the canker has been traced to the fungus Valsa leucostoma, 
most frequently found in the pycnidial stage, Cytospora leucostoma. 
The different stages were reproduced in artificial media. A. L. S. 
Helminthosporium sp. the Cause of “Foot-rot” of Wheat in 
Illinois, U.S.A. — F. L. Stevens {Science, 1920, 51 , 517-8). The 
fungus emanates from the soil, and had not hitherto been classified as 
causing “ foot-rot.” The fungus may also be carried by the seed. 
A. L. S. 
