71 



or similar vegetable matter. The fruiting bodies form, large elongated 

 masses, as much as three inches long, attached to stems of grass and 

 other plants, sticks, etc. Externally they are covered with a thick 

 white crust composed of minute crystals of carbonate of lime while the 

 interior is divided into rather indefinite small chambers filled with vio- 

 let blacki spores. This organism is not parasitic, but is oc- 

 casionally found in large numbers in strawberry beds, living 

 probably on the manure. The plasmodium is stated to be 

 sometimes present in such quantities as to interfere with the formation 

 of fruit. In any case both the slimy plasmodium and the sooty spore 

 powder are quite objectionable among ripening strawberries. Spraying 

 with a solution of 1-2 oz. of potassium sulphide ( liver of sulphur ) in a 

 gallon of w^ater is an effective rem.edy. 



Physarum cinereum ( Batsch ) Pers. During the past season 

 several inquiries were received by the Division of Botany at the Central 

 Experimental Farm, Ottawa, with reference to a disease affecting 

 lawns. The slime-mould named above appears to have been so favoured 

 by the continuous wet weather that prevailed for a large part of last 

 summer that its small grey roundish fruiting bodies literallv covered 

 ever3^ blade of grass in patches of considerable size in certain lawns, in 

 some cases rather to the alarm of the owners. The organism, however, 

 is not parasitic and bfeyond a certai amount of disfigurement would not 

 cause any injury. Like the last it may readily be controlled by spraying 

 potassium sulphide or by sprinkliny the Ia\vn lightly "with potassium 

 nitrate (Common Saltpetre). 



