276 CONIFEROUS TREES 



one of the larger roots of the cypress had come in 

 contact. The plank was completely enveloped 

 in the mycelium of the fungus. When attacked, 

 the cypress was a healthy vigorous tree i8 feet 

 high, the first indications of disease being the 

 drooping, sickly appearance of the branch tips. 

 Similar instances of the death of Sequoia gigantea 

 and Araucaria imhricata by the above fungus could 

 be given. 



Some species of Peridermium attack and cause 

 much damage to Pinus insignis, P. halepensis, 

 P. Strobus, and P. montana. The disease not 

 only causes an inordinate secretion of turpentine, 

 but the cambium of the wood is destroyed, and 

 the branches frequently die off in consequence. 

 Pruning and burning the injured portions of the 

 attacked trees is to be recommended. 



Peridermium columnare has of late years been 

 very destructive to the Silver Fir {Abies pectinata), 

 less so to the Cephalonian Fir [A. cephalonica) in 

 several parts of Ireland and elsewhere. When 

 attacked, both the branches and leaves wear a 

 peculiar and conspicuous rusty appearance. Too 

 close growth of the trees is the main cause of 

 attack, and judicious thinning has, in several 

 instances, put a speedy end to the spread of the 

 fungus. 



Cedrus Deodara I have known to be completely 

 killed by the presence in great quantities of a 

 species of Polyporus ; and at Ampthill, in Bedford- 

 shire, an unusually large Cedrus Libani was badly 

 infested throughout with a similar fungus, and 

 had to be felled in consequence. 



The twiggy growths known as " witches' 



