52 
attention, and within the last few years some systematic attempts at 
treatment have been carried on. 
The results of these experiments, as well as descriptions of the fun¬ 
gus, its history, and the history of the use of fungicides in Switzerland, to¬ 
gether with modes of treatment and descriptions of spraying pumps, 
have been combined into a pamphlet of seventy-three pages, which will 
serve as an excellent handbook for the treatment of downy mildew. In 
this country, where mildew is one of the minor troubles of the grape- 
grower, and is always held in check by treatments for black rot, such 
a work would be of comparatively little use; but in a country where 
the question of conquering mildew is of paramount importance, it 
will be of great value to practical vineyardists. The descriptions of 
the fungus and methods of treatment are especially adapted to those 
who look at the subject from a practical standpoint. A noticeable de¬ 
fect in the book is the absence of accurate data. The reader is simply 
told that one fungicide gave better results than another, or that much 
or little was saved by its use. A few data as to the weight of the fruit 
and condition of the vines would add much to the value of these state¬ 
ments. Two fungicides are recommended as best adapted for prevent¬ 
ing mildew—Bordeaux mixture and another mixture in which soda is 
used instead of lime. Accurate estimates as to the cost of the fungi¬ 
cides, and directions for their preparation are given. Some important 
questions in regard to the latter point were referred to a German chem¬ 
ist, and a few points in his report are worthy of special mention. He 
advises that the mixtures should always be prepared cold, and that in 
order to obtain the precipitate in the most finely powdered condition, 
the more concentrated solution should be poured into the dilute one. 
He further advises that the copper solution be the concentrated one in 
both mixtures.— E. A. Southworth. 
INDEX TO NORTH AMERICAN MYCOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 
By David G. Fairchild. 
243. Anderson, F. W. A new Fomes from northern Montana (with plate xn). Bot. 
Gaz., April 18,1891, p. 113. Describes Fomes Fllisianus on Shepherdia argentea. 
244. Armstrong, L. H. Smut and rust fungus. Florida Dispatch, Farmer and Fruit- 
Grower, Jacksonville, Fla., May 28, 1891, No. 1165, vol. hi, No. 22, p.429 (2 
columns). Gives extracts with comments from bulletins of Kansas Ex. Sta¬ 
tion in regard to prevention of smut in cereals. (See Nos. 156,157,212.) 
245. Arthur, J. C. Loose smut of oats. Bull. 35, vol. ii, March 30,1891, Purdue Univer¬ 
sity, Lafayette, Ind. Ag. Ex. Sta.,pp. 81-107. Discusses abundance of dis¬ 
ease, recording on the station farm a loss of 18 per cent and estimating the 
loss in Indiana in 1889 as equaling $797,526 and in 1890 $605,352. Describes 
the hot-water treatment, giving an experiment with 12 lots of seed dipped 
in hot water of 7 different degrees of temperature from 120° F. to 150° F., 
which resulted in a decrease of the amount of smut in every case. The tern- 
