314 
SOL Swingle, W. T. Treatment of smuts of oats and wheat. <U. S. Dept. Agric., 
Div. of Veg. Path., Farm. Bull. No. 5, Washington, Feb., 1892, pp. 8 , pi. 1. 
Describes the smuts of pram and gives an estimate of amount of damage resulting from 
the diseases. Gives directions for treatment, consisting mainly of immersing seed in hot 
water at a temperature of 132° to 135°. This is known as the Jensen treatment. Potassium 
sulphide for oats and copper sulphate for wheat also noticed. Short bibliography given on 
p. 8. (See also Agric. Jour. Cape Colony, vol. v, May 5, 1892, pp. 3-5.) (J. F. J.) 
865. Van Slyke, L. Results of analyses of some substances used in spraying. <Cult. 
and Country Gent., vol. lvii, Albany, N. Y., Feb. 18,1892, p. 128,1 col. 
•States that a can of “ Copperdine” contained only 8J oz. of copper sulphate, equal to 4 oz. 
copper carbonate and 28 oz, ammonium carbonate. Cost was about 29 cents. A sample of 
dry Bordeaux contained 11.62 per cent of copper instead of 15.24 per cent, as it should have 
done. Gives tests for determining the purity of copper sulphate, copper carbonate, and Paris 
green. (J. F. J.) 
866. Van'Slyke, L. The adulteration of copper mixtures. ^Gard. and Forest, vol. v, 
New York, Feb. 24,1892, pp. 90-91. 
A summary of conclusions given in a paper read before the Western New York Horticul* 
tural Society, mentioning tests for determining purity of various fungicides. (J. F. J.) 
867. Warner, Clarence D. Electricity in agriculture. ^Science, vol. xix, New 
York, Jan. 15,1892, pp. 35-37. 
Refers to the experiments made to show the influence of electric currents upon the growth 
of plants. Gives details of experiments made at Hatch Experiment Station, Amherst, Mass., 
on lettuce to ascertain effects of an electric current on prevention of mildew. The result 
was that the largest heads Avere over the greatest number of wires and nearest the electrodes; 
live out of fifteen died of mildew in treated bed. it Avas found that the healthiest and lar¬ 
gest plants, as soon as the current became feeble or ceased altogether, began to be affected 
with mildew. In beds without electric currents only three plants out of fifteen had par¬ 
tially developed, and only one was free from disease. In another experiment only five out 
of twenty plants were unaffected by mildew in the treated bed, while out of twenty plants 
in an untreated bed all but one died from mildew before half groAvn, and that one Avas badly 
diseased. The conclusion is that “those plants subjected to the greatest electrical influence 
Avere hardier, healthier, larger, had a better color, and Avere much less affected with mildew 
than the others.” Grasses were experimented with, but without marked results. (Soe also, 
Bull. No. 16, Mass., Hatch Ex. Sta., Jan., 1892, p»p. 8 ; Scient. Am. Supplement, a t o1. xxx, Feb. 13, 
1892. pp. 13436-13437 ; Am. Agric., vol. Li. Mar., 1892. p. 201, £ col.; Exper. Station Rec., A r ol. ill, 
Washington, Mar., 1892, pp. 517-520; Gard. and Forest, vol. v, Jan., 27, 1892, pp. 47-48.) 
(J. F. J.) 
868. Weed, C. M. Spraying crops: Why, when, and where. <" Rural Publishing Co., 
New York, 1892, pp. 108, illustrated. 
Brief directions for combating some common insect and fungous pests. (B. T. G.) 
(See also, Nos. 665, 670, 673, 684, 696, 697, 698, 703, 704, 706, 707, 710, 716, 717, 
719, 720, 721, 723, 724, 726, 729, 734, 739, 740, 742, 743, 744, 746, 748, 750, 751, 754, 
755, 756, 757, 761, 766, 770, 774, 775, 777, 778, 780, 871, and 885. 
E.—PHYSIOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 
869. Acloque, A. Les champignons au point de vue biologique, economique et taxo- 
nomique. <Paris, 1892, pp. 327, figs. 60. 
The book is divided into thirteen chapters, the first of which treats of the nature of fungi. 
Chapters 2, 3, and 4 discuss anatomy, and 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 deal with physiology of the fungi. 
In the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth chapters fungi from an economic standpoint are 
considered. The thirteenth and last chapter is devoted to classification, the systems of 
Tournefort, Micholi, Bulliard, Persoon, Link, Nees, Fries, and L6veille being briefly re- 
vieAved. Berkeley’s system receives considerable attention, Avliile Bertillon’s is given in 
full. (B.T.G.) 
870. [Anon.] Parasitic fungus on locust. <Mediterranean Nat., vol. i, Malta, Aug. 
1, 1891, p. 44, i col. 
Refers to experiments of Signor Trabut in Algiers, Avliere Botrytis acridiorum has been 
found to destroy great numbers of locusts. Experiments are being made with a vieAV of 
culth r ating the parasite. (J. F. J.) 
871. [Anon.] Proces-verbaux, seance du 10 mai 1891. <Ann. Soc. cVhort. et d’hist. 
nat. de PH^rault, 2 s 6 r., tome xxiii, Montpellier, May and June, 1891, p. 129. 
MM. Sahut, Cathala, Barthelemy, Cachet, Ganzy, and Giardin were unanimous in declar¬ 
ing that abrupt variations of temperature are very favorable to the spread of the peach 
curl, Exoascus deformans Berk. M. Sahut stated that three methods of prevention had 
been tried, the Bordeaux mixture, decoctions of tobacco, and removal of the affected leaves. 
None of them were very successful. In 1890 the grape mildew ( Peronospora ) was not ob¬ 
served during the summer, and from May to September there was also an almost complete 
absence of dew. On the contrary, during September deAV occurred on twelve days and there 
Avas an invasion of mildew. M. Galzin had found carbonate of soda better than lime for 
fixing copper sulphate. (E. F. S.) 
872. Boardman, E. R. The cabbage worm disease. <^Insect Life, vol. hi, Wash¬ 
ington, June, 1891, pp. 409-410. 
Gives account of spread of disease “ Muscardine,” destroying Avorms infecting cabbages. 
(J. F. J.) 
