272 CONIFEROUS TREES 



doubt to the quantity in which it is grown in this 

 country, suffering most. Two-, three-, and four- 

 year-old seedlings are the favourite host of the 

 fungus ; and it attacks not only the Common and 

 Japanese Larch, but Scotch, Austrian, Mountain, 

 and other pines, the Silver Fir, Douglas Fir, 

 Common and Weeping Spruce, the Deciduous 

 Cypress, and Wellingtonia. In affected seedlings 

 the first indication of the attack is a sickly appear- 

 ance of the leaves, followed by contortions of the 

 shoot ; though, curious to state, the lower portion 

 of a stem may only be attacked, as if the infection 

 proceeded direct from the soil. The diseased 

 leaves fall off prematurely, as do also the tips of 

 affected shoots ; and though the attack may not 

 at once kill the tree, repeated onslaughts render 

 young plants worthless for planting out. 



As the spores of this fungus have been found 

 to grow freely on weeds and other plants, its rapid 

 distribution is readily accounted for. When the 

 fungus has made its appearance in nursery ground, 

 all fallen twigs and leaves should be carefully 

 collected and burnt. Spraying with Bordeaux 

 mixture, or a solution of copper sulphate, 4 lbs. 

 to 100 gallons of water, is recommended. 



Blueing in coniferous timbers is due to the 

 fungus Ceratostoma piliferum. It is common in 

 Scotch pine wood. 



Mosses and Lichens, — In damp and shady 

 situations, and particularly when the trees are not 

 in vigorous growth, both coniferous and hard- 

 wooded trees are often attacked by mosses or 

 lichens, or both. Though the attacks are rather 

 an indication of unsuitable environment than 



