DISEASES OF THE FIG TREE ] 149 



many years to disappear altogether. It is known that 

 trees nearly allied to the fig tree such as the mulberry, 

 the black mulberry and the poplars, behave towards 

 each other in the same manner, so that a mulberry 

 or a poplar will not thrive long if planted instead of 

 a fig tree which had died some time before. It is not 

 clear what is the nature of this poison, but it is probable 

 that the dormant mycelium of a fungus (Armillaria 

 melled) plays an important part in this curious pheno- 

 menon. All dead or dying roots of the fig tree or 

 of the mulberry are generally found covered by a thick 

 mesh of this mycelium, living saprophytically. The 

 mycelium is able to remain for long periods in a 

 dormant or semi-active condition, and is capable of 

 spreading to the roots of the new tree, assuming at 

 once a parasitic habit. It is not unusual to find clusters 

 of the fungus Armillaria mellea with its honey-coloured 

 pileum or umbrella and its long twisted white stalk 

 at the foot of a dead and decaying stump of a fig tree. 

 The poison left in the soil by rosaceous trees (such 

 as stone-fruits and pome-fruits) seems to belong to 

 a form of Armillaria meilea different from that of 

 the fig tree, but it is likely that the loquat which is 

 also a rosaceous tree, is liable to the attack of both 

 forms of the fungus. As a preventive remedy it is 

 advisable to dig up and burn all dead roots, as far 

 as possible, to cart in some fresh healthy soil before 

 planting the new tree, or where this is not possible, 

 to soak the infected soil with a light solution of sulphate 

 of magnesia (Epsom salt) in the proportion ^ kilog. 

 to 100 litres of water. 



The fig-blight (M=fnxie/ tat- tin. lt.=SeccMme del 

 fico.} is due presumably to the action of a bacterium or 

 microbe, and is probably identical with the Gummosis 

 or Bacteriosis of the fig as described by Comes and 

 also by Cavara and Petri. The disease is said to be 

 frequent in Southern Italy, and Sicily, and is met with 



