344 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



should be avoided, as this tends to keep them too moist on the 

 surface, which greatly facilitates the germination of the infecting 

 spores. 



Case II, Pine cluster-cups [Peridermium jnni). In April and 

 May the cups of this fungus may be found on the needles of 

 young pines, but also on older trees, which, though less liable, are 

 not immune from attack. The damage done by this fungus is not 

 great, as the infected needles are not prematurely killed. This is 

 one of those fungi which require two host-plants whereon to 

 complete its life-cycle, the other host, in this case, being one 

 of the several species of Senecio {Senecio vulgaris or common 

 groundsel, Senecio Jacohcea or ragwort, Senecio viscosus, Senecio 

 sylvaticus). Where the disease is common in the nursery or in 

 young plantations, it may be checked and ultimately eradicated 

 by the destruction of all Senecio plants in the neighbourhood. 



Case III. Pine canker. A very fine specimen of canker on 

 the pine was sent. The fungus in this case, probably Peziza 

 Willkommii, was present in abundance, and the effect on the host 

 was similar in every way to that caused by this fungus on the 

 larch. 



Larch: — Case lY. During the Society's visit to the south this 

 year, Mr Mitchell, wood superintendent, Woburn, Beds, called 

 attention to a young larch plantation at Woburn which was in an 

 unhealthy condition. On examination it was found that many of 

 the trees showed flattened and depressed areas in the cortex, near 

 the apex of the main axis, recalling the characteristic markings 

 caused in the Douglas fir by Phoma. Mr J. Barrie, Harlestone, 

 Northampton, who was present, recognised the disease as one he 

 had previously observed in another young larch plantation. This 

 gentleman was good enough to send me some specimens for 

 examination, and from those specimens it was quite evident that 

 Kectria (pi'obably Nectria cinnabarina) was the cause of the 

 cortical depressions and ridge-like markings on the stem. How- 

 ever, the presence of this fungus was not sufficient to account for 

 the general unhealthy conditions of the whole plantation. Its 

 presence was more of the nature of an accompaniment, or the 

 after effect, of some other disease-causing agency. 



Among the other specimens sent were : — Ribes' twigs, with 

 leaves badly attacked by jEcidium grossularicn ; Ruhus fruticostis 

 stem, attacked by Phragmidiuvi ; and a Sajivophyte, Xylaria 

 Hypoxylon, which occurs on dead wood. A. W. Borthwick. 



