108 SUMMAKY OK CUKRKN'l' RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



He gives also instances of beet {Bela vult/aris var. Iwrtensis) 

 being attacked by Fimtrivm Betas and Phoma Betae. The beets were 

 surrounded by a dark ring at the level of the soil, the fungus having 

 gained entrance by cracks in the skin. Tiarge wounds were formed 

 round these centres of infection from | to 3 cm. across, and h cm. 

 deep, and these were filled with the greyish-white mycelium of the 

 Fusarinm, and later with the l)lack dots of the Phoma pycnidia. The 

 two fungi had a disastrous effect on the beet. Eriksson blames the 

 condition of the soil for the attack ])y the two fungi, and recommends 

 more care in preparing the ground. 



Fatal Cases of Poisoning.* — A. Surtory gives an account of three 

 cases of poisoning due to eating Amanita phalloides. in mistake for 

 mushrooms. Tbey were eaten in the evening, and bad symptoms did 

 not appear until the next day. One curious effect was that two of the 

 patients seemed to be recovering, then very suddenly succumbed to the 

 poison, though every possible means was taken to counteract the poison. 



Lichens. 



(By A. LoRRAiN Smith, P.L.S.) 



Cetrariae of the United States and Canada.f — R, Heber Howe 

 presents a systematic account of this genus represented in the area by six 

 species. Though the hyplial structure of this fruticose genus is radiai, 

 the gonidia, whicli occupy a single stiatified layer, link it with dorsiventral 

 genera. One species, 0. Richardsonii, is confined to Arctic N. America, 

 and is conmion from Hudson's Bay to Dawson, Yukon, and up to the 

 Arctic 8ea. 



Lichens of South Lancashire. J J. A. Wheldon and "VV. (4. Travis 

 have published an exhaustive account of the lichens of this district, 

 with important observations on the nature of the soil, rocks, trees, etc , 

 and especially on the deleterious effect of the smoke from a great 

 industrial district. They give an account of the populations and 

 industries, and contrast previous records with the lichen flora as it exists 

 now, pointing out the influence of the polluted atmosphere on the 

 different types of Uchens and in the different localities. The district 

 worked over includes a considerable coast line, and the sand dunes have 

 been examined, their special flora being described. The systematic list 

 includes all previous records, those lichens now extinct being indicated, 

 such as Loharia pulmoiuiria. Several new species of crustaceous lichens 

 were found, and the diagnoses are given. 



Ecology of Lichens. § — Ecological notes by the late W. West are 

 now published. His observations deal with mosses and hepatics, though 

 principally with lichens. He noted that lichens grew generally on the 



* Bull. Soc. Mvcol., France, xxx. (1915) pp. 438-40. 

 + Torreya. xv. '(1915) pp. 214-30 (10 figs.). 

 % Journ. Linn. Soc, xliii (1915) pp. 87-136. 

 § Jonrn. Linn. Snc., xliii (1915) pp. 57-85. 



