85 



falls prematurely ; and even if it remains on the tree and attempts 

 to ripen, the colour is pale and unnatural and the taste rather insipid. 

 The destruction of such foliage is advisable, and this is not a very 

 expensive matter in the case of this large-leaved tree, especially 

 if the trees are not too large. The application of Bordeaux mixture 

 may be proceeded with without fear of injury to the foliage, the full 

 strength mixture being used. The effects of this treatment are beneficial. 



ROOT ROTS AND TIMBER ROTS. 



FROM time to time I have collected or had submitted for examination 

 a considerable variety of specimens suggestive of a class of diseases 

 which fortunately seem not to be so destructive in this State as they 

 are well known to be in some other countries. I refer to those root- 

 rots and timber-rots caused by fungi of the toadstool and puff-ball 

 order. These innocent looking fungi are by no means so local in their 

 growth and effects as we are wont assume, in fact if all other matter 

 in the vicinity of one of these fungi could be removed so as to give 

 us an unobstructed view of all of the ramifications of the " toadstool " 

 or "puff-ball/' as we call it, our astonishment would be great. 

 Minute thread-like " roots " pass from the bottom of the fungus, as 

 we see it perched on the surface of the ground, downward and out- 

 ward for long distances, and, in the case of certain species, do not end 

 except in some source of food such as the roots of some plant or tree. 

 There in the roots of the plant or the trunk of the tree is elaborated 

 the material used in producing the " toadstool." We see the tree- 

 trunk gradually going to decay, little realising that its substance high 

 up in the air is being secretly taken away through the microscopic 

 roots of the toadstool, carried down into the soil, and there elaborated 

 and stored in readiness for some spell of wet weather when it suddenly 

 comes to light as a bunch of " toadstools." Sometimes these fungi are 

 not quite so secret in their operations, and then we see them fructi- 

 fying on the very surface of the tree-trunk in the form of bracket fungi. 



Not only do standing tree growths suffer in this manner but also cut 

 timber lying on the surface of the ground, or in any other damp 

 situation. Fence posts and vineyard posts suffer in the same manner. 

 I have in the vicinity of my residence a number of posts that every 

 now and then, during some spell of wet weather, send up near their 

 bases whole battalions of " toadstools." I know well the source of 

 their growth and have kept them under observation for the purpose 

 of learning more of their habits, but I would not advise any pro- 

 fessional orchardist or gardener to act similarly, or at any rate would 

 warn him that he does so at the expense of his property. 



Although this field has been as yet but very imperfectly explored, 

 it seems probable that these fungi are mostly unable to fight their way 

 into living and growing tissues so long as these are free from injury, 

 and this fact gives a clue to remedial and preventive measures, as we 

 shall presently see. 



As already remarked these diseases seem to be less common in 

 Australia than in other countries. Possibly our droughts have some- 

 thing to do with this, for it should not be forgotten that our severe 

 droughts undoubtedly kill off many pests as well as many crops. Still, 



