18-4 SUMMAEY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



some that are indifferent. The author then discusses the degree of 

 noxiousness of the parasites and the immunity of some hosts compared 

 with others. His observations were made at Bareges, in the Pyrenees, and 

 he compares the fungi on the French side with those of the Spanish. 

 As tlie weakened plant is most hable to attack, it generally happens 

 'that several fungi are found on the same host growing in association. 

 The work of insects in transporting spores, and by their bites providing 

 wound openings, is also noted. A. L. S. 



Xylaria Notes. — Two papers have been issued by C. G. Lloyd 

 (Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. and Bee. 1918, 1-22, figs.) bearing on this 

 genus of fungi. The species dealt with are mainly tropical, many of 

 them collected in Brazil. One, named Xylaria Hercuha, measures 

 4 to 10 in. long and | to 1 in. thick ; it was found by Torrend in Brazil. 

 Other plants described and figured are from Canada and from West 

 Africa. A. L. S. 



Sporadic Appearance of Non-edible Mushrooms in Cultivated 

 Mushroom-beds. — Michael Leonie {MijcoJogia, 1919, 11, 51-4, 1 pi.) 

 describes a dwarfed white Agaric among the normal mushrooms in 

 cultivation. The plants have shor^ stipes and are frequently fused 

 together. Leonie places them near CUtocyte dealhaia. He also cites the 

 occurrence of Aleuria vesiculosa and var. saccata as frequent in mushroom- 

 houses around ]N^ew York. Both species and variety are typical mush- 

 room-cellar plants. A. L. S. 



Endothia parasitica and Related Species. — An account of these 

 has been published by C. L. Shear, Neil E. Stevens, and Ruby J. 

 Tiller {U. S. Dept. Agric. Bull, No. 380, 1917, 1-82, 23 pis., 5 figs.). 

 The authors have thoroughly investigated the questions of Taxonomy, 

 Morphology and Physiology of the fungus. Eight species have been 

 recognized by them and cultures made, but Endothia parasitica, the 

 disease organism of chestnut-trees, is the most virulent in its action. It 

 has already destroyed most of the chestnut-trees within a radius of 100 

 miles of New York City. The origin of the fungus has been ascertained 

 by Meyer, who discovered it in Japan and China, whence it was imported 

 into America. Oriental species of chestnut are more or less resistant ; 

 all American species are specially liable to the disease. A. L. 8. 



Parasitic Microfungi. — Malusio Turconi andLuiGi Maffei {Atti 

 1st, Univ. Favia, 1918, Ser. 2, 15, 143-9, 1 pi.) describes a new genus 

 of CeratostomaccEe. It differs from Ceratostoma, its nearest ally, in the 

 , hispid character of the perithecium, which is adorned with long stiff 

 pointed hairs. The fungus was found on dead leaves of Castanea vescUy 

 in Liguria. They further describe tw^o diseases of Sophora japonim 

 due to different fungi. The first, which affects the leaves, has been 

 traced to Macrosporimn Sophorse »p. n. The second causes livid spots 

 on the branches, and is due to Gihberella Briosiana sp. n. The authors 

 also describe a conidial stage, Fusarium sp., which differs in various 

 characters from F. Sophorse Allesch. A. L. S. 



