47 
considers it as most closely allied to the common blue moulds 
included in the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium. 
The synonymy is as follows :— 
Thielavia basicola, Zopf, Sitz. Bot. Ver. Prov. Brand. 18, p. 101 
1876); Torula basicola, B. and Br., Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 2, 5, 
p- 461 (1850) ; Helninthasporium Fragile, Sor., ae “ p- ong 
(1876) ; Milowia nivea, Mass., Journ. Roy. Micr. Soe »p.8 
(1884) ; Clasterosporium fragile, Sace., Syll. Fung, vt p. 386 i836), 
DISTRIBUTION. 
The fungus was first observed by Berkeley in England in 1850. 
It has also been recorded from France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the 
United States and Cuba. It has proved to be very destructive to 
cultivated crops in Italy, Germany and the United States, and is 
probably much more widely distributed in the soil than is generally 
suspected. 
Now that a simple and certain method for determining its 
presence has been discovered we are in a position to anticipate it 
and to act accordingly, as one means necessary for its arrest are 
. inexpensive and effective. 
n England its aiiesbation is certainly widespread ; seedling 
ster and sweet peas, more espe cially, have been received at Kew 
following genera: Apium; Aralia; Aster; Begonia; Beta; Blysmus ; 
Cochlearia; Cyclamen; Daucus; Lathy yrus ; Lupinus; Cypripedium ; 
Nemophila; Nicotiana ; Onobrychis ; Pisum ; Seorzonera ; Senecio ; 
Trigonella; Viola. In some instances the injury caused by this 
fungus assumes serious proportions and the tobacco crop, both in 
urope and in the United States, has suffered to the greatest 
CULTURES OF THE FUNGUS, 
The conidia of the summer stage (Milowia) germinate freely 
within twenty-four hours in water. As a rule only one germ-tube 
is ae Ge from one end of the conidium. In those instances 
of 
other remaining’ mall and stunted, and eventually fon ng. The 
conidia only retain their vitality for about ten days, and no conidium 
was observed to germinate after it had been liberated for more than 
a fortnight. Germination is most vigorous immediately after the 
conidia are liberated, and the percentage of germination decreases 
daily with the increasing age of the conidia. As compared with a 
neutral medium, the presence of a slight amount -. acidity in — 
-— putrient solution favours germination and the elopment 
