154 liEPORT OF THE DePARTMKNT OF BoTANY oF THE 



V. TILE DRAIN CLOGGED BY FUNGUS. 



On June 13, 1901, while investigating an outbreak of currant 

 autliracnose in the vicinity of Milton, we met Mr. H. H. Hallock, 

 a vinegar manufacturer of that place. Mr. Hallock informed us 

 that the tile drain to his vinegar cellar had become clogged some 

 time during the previous May and upon investigation he had 

 found that the cause of the trouble was a fungous growth re- 

 sembling the " mother " of vinegar. He removed some of the 

 tiles at intervals of about twenty-five feet and laboriously poked 

 out the fungus until the drain was clear. In about three weeks 

 it clogged again. Knowing the destructive effect of copper sul- 

 phate on fungi in general it occurred to him to try to remove the 

 fungus by putting some of the chemical into the upper end of 

 the drain. Accordingly, this was done. About one-fourth 

 pound of copper sulphate crystals was placed in the upper end 

 of the drain on Saturday. The following Monday it was found 

 that a large quantity of the fungus had been discharged from 

 the outlet and the drain was again clear. However, in a few 

 days it clogged for the third time, and the copper sulphate treat- 

 ment was applied again with beneficial results. Fully one-half 

 barrel of the fungus was discharged. This was about June 10. 

 During the remainder of the season the fungus gave no further 

 trouble. 



Our visit on June 13 was timely. A large quantity of the 

 fungus lay in a pool of water at the mouth of the drain where it 

 could be readily examined. It consisted of brownish, ropy, slip- 

 pery masses of various sizes somewhat resembling the so called 

 *•' mother " of vinegar. A small quantity was obtained for 

 microscopic examination. It was found to consist almost 

 exclusively of hyphje having a diameter of 8 to 11 ix. Some of 

 the hyphaj were almost wholly destitute of contents, while 

 others contained brownish granules which gave the brownish 

 tinge in mass. The hyphae were sparingly branched in a dicho- 

 tomous fashion. At regular intervals they were sharply con- 

 stricted and at each constriction there was a single spherical 



