494 SUMMARY OF CUERENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



ing facilities in our country and in the various colonies ; finally, he 

 indicated some of the ways in which that teaching could be improved 

 here and our knowledge extended. A contrast is also drawn between 

 what we have achieved and mycological education in other countries. 



Economic Mycology.* — W. N. Cheesman has treated this subject in 

 his presidential address to the members of the Yorkshire Naturalists' 

 Union. He gives an historical and general sketch of fungi and describes 

 the properties of certain fungi that makes them valuable as food. He 

 discusses the plans for making such food more generally available and 

 acceptable, emphasizing especially the need of education. 



The other side of the question is then dealt with : the fungi that 

 cause disease to the organisms and immense material loss, the world's 

 annual loss being estimated to exceed 300,000,000/. Several of the more 

 prevalent pests are discussed along with questions of immunity and 

 remedial measures. Finally, the study of fungi is strongly recommended. 



Notes on Fungus Development.t — M. E. M. Johnson gives the 

 results of observations on some minute fungi which appeared on blocks 

 of Panus styptieus which were being experimented with in the labora- 

 tory. In Botrytis pyramidalis she found a frequent change of colour ; 

 the tufts of the fungus growing in the light became a deep blue-green, 

 those in the shade remained white ; she also noted that when mature 

 the conidiophore fell with the conidia attached. 



Another fungus, Sphseronsema cornuium, also appeared on the wood 

 on which the Panus grew, and it was found to be constantly associated 

 with Haployraphium olivaceum, the latter fungus even appearing to 

 spring from the pycnidium of the Spiiaeronema. The constant associa- 

 tion of the two fungi suggested some connexion between them, as stages 

 in the life cycle possibly. 



Cytology of Fungus Reproduction.:!: — J. Ramsbottom has reviewed 

 the work done on this subject during the year. The papers he quotes 

 deal with members of the Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Uredinete, Basidio- 

 mycetes, and Hyphomycetes. Important research has been carried out 

 in these different groups, more especially in the Basidiomycetes, and 

 much of it is intimately related with systematic work. 



Fungus Folk-lore.§— E. W. Swanton contributes notes on this 

 subject : — DalcUnia concentrica has been used as a safeguard against 

 cramp ; puff-balls have been frequently used as styptics ; Fomes pomaceus 

 has a reputation as a poultice for a swollen face ; razor-strops were quite 

 frequently made from Polyporus hetulinus, and that fungus was also 

 used as tinder by Surrey and Sussex villagers. 



* Naturalist, 1917, pp. 185-200. 



t Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc, v. (1917) pp. 414-6 (1 pL). 

 I Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc, v. (1917) pp. 441-61. 

 § Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc, v. (1917) pp. 408-9. 



