ENEMIES OF CONIFEROUS TREES 277 



brooms " are caused by the mycelium of Mcidium 

 elatinum. They are found on Ahies nordmanniana, 

 A. pectinata, A. Pinsapo, A. balsamea, Pseiido- 

 tsuga Douglasii, and other conifers. Pruning off 

 and burning affected branches is to be recom- 

 mended. 



When growing in too damp soil, I have known 

 Cryptomeria japonica, Sequoia gigantea, and Ctipres- 

 sus macrocarpa to have their roots badly injured 

 by the mycelium of a species of Hymenomycetes ; 

 whilst, again, when planted in unsuitable soils, 

 Picea Morinda, Pinus excelsa, and our Common 

 Larch, suffer severely from both Agaricus {Armil- 

 laria) melleiis and Poly poms stdphureus, 



I have known a nursery brake, containing 60,000 

 one-year-old larches, entirely denuded by the 

 mycelium of a fungus which undoubtedly had 

 been imported in the leaf-mould and decaying 

 woody matter that had been used for top-dressing, 

 thus showing with what care manures should be 

 added to the soil in which young trees are to be 

 planted. 



Animals and Birds 



Though not considerable and usually of local 

 occurrence, yet the amount of damage done to 

 trees by animals and birds should receive attention. 

 Red deer, hares, rabbits, squirrels, rats, and mice 

 are amongst animal foes ; whilst under destructive 

 birds might be included the ptarmigan, grouse, 

 pigeon, woodpecker, crossbill, starling, and various 

 species of finches. 



Buds of most coniferous trees are freely eaten 



