65-' 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [ii Sept., 191 i. 



It is not due to a siiiylc luiiyu.-, hut to a group, one or other of which 

 may be responsible for the damage, the outward manifestations of which, 

 so far as the mouldy appearance on the roots and. the injury to vegetation 

 are concerned, may be very similar. 



It is chieflv mentioned here because the fungus responsible for the 

 disease with us, so far avs has been yet ascertained, is only one of the group 

 which attack the roots ol the vine in France. 



Here we are familiar with Armillaria vullea, which frequently works 

 injury in our orchards as well as in vineyards. This fungus is also known 

 in France (usually under the synonym of Agaricus melhiis). but it is 

 considered, in that country, to be of less importance, as a cause of the 

 disease, than Dematofhora iiecatrix, a quite distinct fungus, which does 

 not appear to have been observed in Victoria. Another species. \iz.. 

 D. glomcrata, also attacks the roots of the vine, mainly in sandy but un- 

 duly wet soils. 



POURRIDIE. 



1. Dematophora necatrix on roots. 2. Same, showinjf tructifleatiors of funjins. 



'i. Armillaria melleu, fructiflCitions. i. Same fung'us on root (afier Vialla). 



Several root fungi usually looked upon as saphrophytic or only para- 

 sitic to a slight extent, may, under certain circumstances, become injurious. 

 Such is the case with Fibrillaria, usually considered to be a harmless 

 fungus, but which has been observed to damage young vines in the nursery. 



Many other fungi* attack the vine in France, but it is impossible to 

 mention them here. In the above lines, the most important only could be 

 referred to. Sufficient has lieen 'said to show the seriousness of the diffi- 

 culties French vine-growers have to contend against, and the great advan- 

 tage enjoyed by Australian viticulture, thanks to our dry atmospheric con- 

 ditions. 



The loss of half the vintage of T910 in France is mainly due to fungus 

 diseases — in certain districts the loss amounted to as much as 90 per cent. 



{To he continued.) 



* Amonsrst tliese, tliree wliich are somewhat similar in tlieir outward manifestations, are deser\ iny- of 

 passinsr notice since tlie blacli spots they cause on the leaves mifjlit si^'c cause for alarm. Septoriii 

 umpelinwn is resprvnsilile for the disease known in France as MHanose. Cladosporium viticnluiii, and 

 Si'jildxiioriiiiii /''»cA-c/// lire ii^ii.ill) referred to by their yfeneric names. Even in the moist French climate 

 the (l:iiii;i-e (loiif li\ I liise fuiiL:i has hitherto lieen insi.unificant. Aureobasidium vitis {see Additions to. he 

 FuH'ji uH tkc Vine in Aus'nilUij is also )<no\vn, hut tlie d.amaye caused hy it in France is only slight. 



