212 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Report by A. W. Borthwick, D. Sc, Honorary Consulting 

 Cryptoganiist. 



A considerable number of queries and specimens for identifica- 

 tion have been sent in during the past year, but in most cases 

 the damage turned out to be due to fungi which have already- 

 been reported on in the Transactions, and need not be further 

 noticed here. 



It may be well, however, to call attention to a fungus, 

 Cryptomyces maximus, which caused widespread damage to willow 

 cultures. It was reported to have destroyed about two acres of 

 willow known to the trade as " Norfolks," and to have also 

 attacked "Black Mules" and "Spaniards." The presence of this 

 fungus is first indicated by the appearance of yellow spots on the 

 epidermis of the shoot; later black centres, due to the formation 

 of the fruit-bodies of the fungus, appear in these spots ; and finally 

 the spots become covered by black cushions. In these black 

 cushions arise the spores by which the disease is propagated and 

 spread. It is necessary that a sharp lookout be kept on the beds, 

 and any plants which show the first symptoms of the disease 

 should be removed and burned. 



A certain proportion of the cases submitted were caused by 

 unfavourable climatic conditions, such as cold, drying winds, frost, 

 and the like. 



Two specimens are still under investigation, one, a Peziza 

 parasitic on Abies grandis, sent by Mr John F. Annand from 

 Haystoun, Peebles, and another, a resupinate Polyporus on a 

 young Scots pine, submitted by Mr VV. Davidson from Margam, 

 Port Talbot, Wales. 



