LABORATORY STUDIES 225 
(t) In early summer examine the choke-cherry and plum 
trees (wild and cultivated) for the young stages of Black Knot. 
Watch the development until the knot becomes velvety in 
appearance (about midsummer). Now make very thin cross- 
sections of the knot and examine for conidia. The several 
stages may be readily preserved in alcohol for future study. 
(j) Late in autumn and in early winter examine the knots on 
the same trees. Note the young perithecia, i.e. hollow papillae. 
Make very thin vertical sections through some of these. No 
perfect ascospores can be found at this time. 
(k) Collect fresh knots in, midwinter and make similar 
examinations, when the asci and ascospores may be found. 
(2) In the autumn collect a quantity of leaves of the lilac 
which are covered with a whitish mold-like growth, the Lilac- 
mildew (Microsphaera alni). Scrape off a bit of this Mildew 
after moistening with a drop of alcohol; mount carefully, 
adding a little potassium hydrate. Look for conidia and 
haustoria. Look also for spore-fruits, which appear like minute 
dark dots to the naked eye. Carefully crush the spore-fruits 
and observe the asci (four to seven) with their contained 
ascospores (6). Note the beautifully branched tips of the 
appendages. 
(m) Collect and study the mildews to be found on hops 
(Sphaerotheca castagnei), on cherry- and apple-leaves (Podo- 
sphaera oxyacanthae), on hazel- and ironwood-leaves (Phyl- 
lactinia suffulta), on willow-leaves (Uncinula salicis), on leaves 
and fruit of grapes (U. necator), on wild sunflowers, verbenas, 
etc. (Hrysiphe cichoracearum), on peas, grass, anemones, 
buttercups, etc. (EZ. communis). 
(n) Place a few slips of green twigs in an ordinary plant-press, 
allowing them to remain until they become (1) moldy (conidial 
state), and (2) covered with minute yellow globular bodies (the 
spore-fruits). ‘These are known as the Herbarium-mold (Asper- 
gillus herbariorum). Study as in the case of the Mildews. 
This can frequently be obtained by placing a piece of almost 
dry bread under a bell jar for a few days. 
(0) Blue Mold may be obtained from decaying fruit, pas- 
try, ete. 
(p) Place a minute piece of “compressed’’ yeast upon a glass 
slide, add a little water, cover with a cover-glass, tapping it 
down gently. After a short examination under a high power of 
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