126 Hepoict of the Dei'Aktmknt of Botany of the 



seemed to affect the berries but sliglitly. Very rarely did the 

 berries wither from this cause. Peck's^ statement that the 

 fungus does not attack the berries is certainly an error. 



Thinking it possible that the fungus attacks also the wood, 

 we made a close examination of the canes in the badly affected 

 Hepworth plantation and were immediately rewarded by the 

 discovery of 3'ellowish pustules which upon microscopic examina- 

 tion proved to be the acervuli or spore conceptacles of 

 Gloeosporium rihis. This was on July 10. Most of the acervuli 

 seemed immature, but some of them contained spores identical 

 with those found on the leaves, thus leaving no doubt that 

 Glaosporium rihis occurs on currant canes. At our next visit, 

 July 23, it was found that the acervuli were mostly mature and 

 contained an abundance of typical G. rihis spores. A quality of 

 the affected canes was collected and preserved. They will prob- 

 ably be distributed in Seymour and Earle's Econamic Fungi. So 

 far as observed, the acervuli occur only on wood of the present 

 season's growth. The color of the acervuli is pale yellow or 

 light brown and differs but little from that of the cane. Conse- 

 quently, they are inconspicuous. However, when they are num- 

 erous, one acquainted with them may locate them with the 

 unaided eye. The fungus seems to do very little harm to the 

 cane, producing but a trifling discoloration of the bark and none, 

 at all of the wood. 



AYe believe this to be the first account of the discovery of 

 Glwosporinm rihis on currant canes. Considering the inconspicu- 

 ousness of the acervuli, it is not strange that they have been 

 overlooked. It is also possible that under ordinary circum- 

 stances the fungus does not attack the canes. Whenever a 

 plant disease becomes epidemic it is likely to behave somewhat 

 differently from its usual manner. However, be this as it may, 

 the discovery is an important one because it shows where the 

 fungus probably passes the winter and that the canes are to be 

 considered a source of infection in the spring. 



'Peck, C. H. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. Nat. Hist, 43:52. 



