854 



Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



nights in winter. The species grown are Erie. gJohulns, E. rohusta, 

 E. tereticornis, E . aviygdalina, E. longifolia, and E . rostrata. About 

 two-thirds of the stand contains E. glohiihis, fairly pure with a 

 sprinkling of the other species, while in tlie remaining third the other 

 species predominate. 



Originally planted in 1890, the whole area was clear felled in 

 spring, 1911. In 1917 an unhealthy appearance was observed in the 

 second growth of trees, some of which were dying back in the tops. 

 This was at the time attributed to something unsuitable in the subsoil. 

 In 1919 the larger of the unhealthy trees, 8 to 10 inches in diameter, 

 were felled, but the wood of many of these was found to be useless, 

 being rotten inside. It was then discovered that many dead old 

 stumps of the trees cut in 1911 were covered with fruiting bodies of 

 the fungus Sfereum hirsutinii, which had also spread on to the living 

 stems of the second growtli. Microscopic examination of the latter 



Plate II. 



{Photo by I. B. Pole Eraiin.) 



Stump of E. glohvlux showing discoloration and soft dry rot in centre 

 caused bv S. hirmtum. 



revealed the presence of fungal threads or mycelium, i.e. the vegetative 

 part of the fungus, in the living tissues of the stem, causing a 

 yellowish-brown discoloration and in advanced stages of infection a 

 disorganization and destruction of the tissues resulting in a typical 

 soft dry root. (Plate II.) The fruiting bodies of the fungus were 

 not, however, always present on infected trees, and it was only on 

 telling that the rot inside was disclosed, showing the insiduous nature 

 of the disease. 



As a result of careful observation it was concluded that the disease 

 had originally started in the stumps, where it had gained ready 

 .entrance through the exposed cut ends. From these it had then 



