58 Fungi, Myxomyceten , Pathologie. 



Butler, E. T., Some Diseases of Palms. (The Agricultural 

 Journal of India. Vol. 1. Part 4. p. 299—310. Oct. 1906.) 



An account of three fungus diseases of Palms which have 

 recently appeared in India. 



1. Betel Palm (Arecn catechn) Disease, in the Main ad districts 

 of Mj^sore. The disease attacks the flowers and fruit stalks and 

 not only destroys the crop but frequently also kills the tree. The 

 fungus is a species of Phytophthora. The author suggests that by 

 forcing methods of cultivation the Palms have been induced to pro- 

 duce their crop earlier than in former years, and hence young fruit 

 stalks are exposed to infection during the rainy season. He advo- 

 cates,(l) the cultivation of later varieties and a reversion if possible 

 to the later harvesting of former years, and (2) the use of tin Covers 

 to Protect the inflorescence from the rains. 



2. Betel Nut Plague in Sylhet. This is found to be due to a 

 root fungus: Fontes hicidiis being suspected. Trenches two feet deep 

 cut round the affected trees or patches have proved affective in pre- 

 venting the spread. 



3. Disease of Palmyra Palm [Borassus flabellifer) and Cocoa Nut 

 Palm {Cocos imcifera) in the Godavari Delta. The fungus (a 

 species of Pythimn) first attacks the young leaves and gradually 

 extends downwards into the heart of the bud, tili finally the whole 

 top withers and falls off. This disease appears to be of a more 

 serious nature than either of the others described, and as far as is 

 known it is invariably fatal. Cutting down and burning the tops of 

 all diseased palms and brushing the leaf-sheaths of healthy trees 

 with Bordeaux-mixture, are measures the author urges should be 

 carried out whilst the infected area is still small. 



A. D. Cotton (Kew). 



Crossland, C, Recently discovered Fungi in Yorkshire. (The 

 Naturalist, p. 97—105. 1 Plate. March 1907.) 



Two new species are described in this list, (which contains 

 records of Fungi new to the county since the publication of the 

 Yorkshire Fungus Flora) : Verticicladium Cheesmanü Crossl. , (pale red 

 ^ brown patches, spores 6—8X3—4 n.). Clavaria gigaspora Cotton, 

 which resembles forms of C. cinerea and C. cristata but may readily 

 be distinguished ifrom either b}'- the large spores and basidia. 



A. D. Cotton (Kew). 



Friedländer, E. und H. Doepner. Ueber den Einfluss von 

 Schimmelpilzen auf die Lichtintensität in Leuchtbak- 

 terienkulturen, nebst Mitteilung einer Methode zur ver- 

 gleichenden photometrischen Messung der Lichtinten- 

 sität von Leu'chtbakterienkulturen. (Centralbl. f. Bakt. I. Abt. 

 Originale. XLIII. p. 1—7. 1907.) 



Verff. hatten, wie auch schon Molisch, aber unabhängig von 

 diesem, die Beobachtung gemacht, dass ältere Kulturen von Leucht- 

 bakterien, die ihr Leuchtvermögen bereits völlig verloren hatten, 

 wieder und zwar aussergewöhnlich intensiv aufleuchteten, wenn auf 

 oder in der Nähe der Kolonien Schimmelpilze zur Entwicklung ge- 

 kommen waren. Diese Tätigkeit der Steigerung der Lichtintensität 

 kam allen untersuchten Schimmelkulturen — Mucor stolonifer, Peni- 



