112 



striking characteristics being sudden changes from the minimum 

 diameter to the maximum. None of the clamp joints, such as are 



X 400 



Pig. 125. Spores of the fungus causing the blight figured in illustration No. 123. The spores 

 vary greatly in size, some being hundreds of times larger than others. As the spores are 

 born on the hyphse of the strorna they do not differ so much in size, but by a process of 

 budding they often increase much in number, at the same time diminishing much in size. 

 The illustration attempts to show the range of size due to this budding process. 



characteristic of the mycelium of the Basidiomycetes were seen. It 

 will be observed that the mycelium gathers together to form a distinct 

 stroma for the bearing of the spores. However, there were some of 

 these spore-beds so small that they must have been composed of 

 comparatively few hyphae. 



I have inoculated green hedge-plums, green nectarines, and ripe 

 cherries, loquats, apples, and bananas, from cultures of the spores, but, 

 so far, with negative results. 



"Take-all," a Disease of Cereals. 



Some years ago there appeared in the pages of this journal a report 

 on the series of diseases usually treated of under the name of " Take- 

 all." Since that time further observations have been made, and the 

 results of these observations appear worthy of abstraction from the 

 letters on the subject and arrangement in a connected form. The 

 most important result is the discovery of what seems to be a reliable 

 method of treatment. 



It is plain that the disease is one connected with a moist condition 

 of the soil. We have heard little of it during the drought, but during 

 the present season, 1903 a moist season numerous cases have been 

 observed, and the losses have been considerable. The appearances 

 are the same as those formerly reported, and the species of fungi are 

 the same, giving rise, as before remarked, to the opinion that the term 

 " Take-all" is one that must be understood to include a number of 

 different diseases which further study may isolate and prove to be 

 physiologically more or less related. 



The disease, or the diseases, may be combated by the application of 

 lime, used at the rate of not less than one ton to the acre. 



I have seen cases of " Take-all " that were connected in the most 

 manifest manner with certain slightly depressed areas where storm 

 waters stood for some time in puddles and finally sank into the soil. 

 If the storm occurred at a stage when the cereal growth was still soft 

 and tender and therefore susceptible, the plants went off with typical 

 "Take-aft.^ 



Of course, in the last analysis, all the foregoing points to lack of 

 efficient drainage as one of the prime causes of these diseases, and 

 anything that can be done to improve the drainage will be beneficial. 

 Even an extra deep tillage of the right sort will do good, as it often 

 happens that the damage is done in a short time by standing water, the 

 damage being apparently due to the lack of air about the roots of the 



