422 Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



ance of a small hyaline cap, formed by the membrane of the aseus. 

 The asci contain 8 spores, which are long and slender and fnligi 

 nous in color. In the yonnger stages they are filled with small 

 vacuoles. Later the vacuoles disappear and the spores become 

 divided by from 10 to 12 septa. Fig. 11 shows 2 asci before 

 maturity and 1 at maturity. 



On July 7 a dilution culture was made of the ascopores, using 

 agar in which was a strong infusion of coecids. After two days, 

 germination had commenced. The spores, usually remaining in the 

 ascus, put out at various intervals slender, sinuous germ-tubes, con- 

 taining iine granules. In some cases the tubes were closely packed 

 coming from many of the segments of the spores (Fig. 13). After 

 three days the threads become full of vacuoles, and constrictions 

 appear between them. At this stage the plate became so badly 

 contaminated with bacteria that it was impossible to further observe 

 the development. 



On potato the growth proceeds slowly, forming a dense dirty- 

 white mat somewhat uneven in surface, and turning the adjacent 

 potato a deep bluish black color. 



The economic value of this fungus is probably small. The fungus 

 abounds on scales which grow in damp and cool gorges, and refuses 

 to flourish in dry situations. The cedar from which many of the 

 specimens studied were obtained was situated on a dry hillside, and 

 although the scales were very many of them full of hyphal bodies, 

 no sporophores were afterward seen. It is possible that these 

 hyphal bodies play an important part in the spread of the dis- 

 ease, and, being very inconspicuous, they may grow in thigi 

 stage until conditions favorable to tlie production of the Isaria 

 — or Cordyceps — stage are brought about. It would be very inter- 

 esting to try experiments with scale-insects in a region having a 

 moist climate or season suitable to the propagation of this disease. 



■ CORDYCEPS MILITAEIS (Linn.) Link. 



On October 14, 1894, Miss Green, a student in the University, 

 found a specimen of a Cordyeeps psirtiaWy buried in decaying leaves, 

 in woodland, at Eniield gorge. Unfortunately no search was made 

 for the insect, but the sporophores were simply pulled up and 

 brought to the laboratory. Two sporophores were found about 3 cm. 

 in length (Fig. 92). They were clavate in form and orange in 



