DISEASES OF TAXODIUM AND LIBOCEDRUS. 65 
diatum. The mycelium had clamp connections and swell- 
ings like those of Agaricus melleus. 
In accounts given of Yaxodium logs found buried at va- 
rious points * no mention is made of any defect. While in 
southern Louisiana last winter a number of sections of 
buried Taxodium logs were obtained.f These were found 
several miles back from the Mississippi river at an average 
depth of 10 ft. below Gulf level. Compared with other 
cypress logs found, these are not very old, but they are 
sufficiently far removed from the present time to deserve 
notice. In two of these logs unmistakable signs of pecki- 
ness were found. There was very little mycelium, but a 
sufficient number of hyphae with clamp connections were 
seen to justify the conclusion that they were the same as 
those growing to-day. The holes were few in number, but 
were not to be mistaken. It is probable that if other and 
older logs were examined more instances would be found. 
It would seem therefore that the disease is one which has 
extended back for some thousand years at least, and 
probably further. 
* Lyell, Sir Chas. Travels in N. A. in the years 1841-2. 1; 114.— He 
says of cypress logs buried in the Dismal Swamp: ‘‘ When thrown 
down they are covered by water, and never decompose except the sap.”’ 
Lyell, Sir Chas. A second visit to the U. S. 249. (1850). — (Cypress 
buried at the mouth of the Altamaha river.) 
Carpenter, Wm. Account of the bituminization of wood in the 
human era, etc. (Am. Journ. of Sc. & Arts 36: 118. 1839).— (Buried 
cypress forest at Port Hudson, La.) 
Bartram, W. Travels through North & South Carolina, Georgia, E. 
& W. Florida 66. London. 1792. 
+ The logs were found at the following points: — 
No. 1. Standing stump 9 ft. below surface, 7850 ft. back from river on 
Jourdan ave. No. 2. Horizontal log, butt 30 inches; center 10 ft. below 
surface, 8325 ft. from river on Jourdanave. Nos.3¢4. Standing stumps 
same locality as No.1. No. 3 had 260 rings in the heart wood. The 
surface where the samples were taken reads about 21 Cairo datum, mean 
Gulf level, 21.26 C. D., i. e. they were therefore about 10 ft. below Gulf 
level. See also Chart No. 76 of the Mississippi River Commission, for 
location of Jourdan ave. 
5 43 
