FOREST PROTECTION 123 



XX. Polyporus ponderosus n. sp., described in detail by 

 H. von Schrenk in Bull. 36 of Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, p. 37 f.f.g., causes the red rot of Pinus 

 ponderosa killed by insect pests at the lapse of 

 two years. The fungus is a saprophyte closely 

 resembling Polyporus pinicola. 

 Aside of the Polypori, the following technically obnoxious fungi 

 deserve attention. 



I. Lemites sepiaria is a saprophyt preying on hemlock, 

 long leaf and short leaf pine — notably on rail- 

 road ties. (Reference For. Bull. 51). 

 II. SchizophyUum commune attacks railroad ties of short 

 leaf pine, hemlock, etc. saprophytically. (Ref. 

 For. Bull. 51). 



III. Unnamed fungus, the sporophores of which are im- 



known, attacks Sequoia sempervirens and causes 

 "brown rot" (or "butt rot" or "pin rot"), the 

 decay beginning in the inner rings of heartwood 

 near the ground. The fibre is converted into 

 pockets, usually twice as broad as long, filled 

 with dark brown matter. (Reference: For. Bull. 

 38, pp. 29-31, and plates X. and XI). 



IV. CeratostomeUa (Sphceria) pilifera, a saprophyt of the 



family Discomycetes, causes the bluing of sap- 

 wood in the lumber and in the dead boles (killed 

 by Dendrodonus) of Pinus ponderosa. This fungus 

 does not interfere with the strength of the tim- 

 ber; it decreases its fissibility — a disadvantage 

 in cutting of railroad ties. The spores seem to 

 enter through the ladder mines made by the 

 Ambrosia beetles — but do not seem to develop 

 into Ambrosia. Reference: Bull. 36, Bureau of 

 Plant Industry entire. 



"The bluing" of the sap wood in logs and 

 lumber is disastrous notably to the value of 

 poplar logs driven or rafted to destination dur- 

 ing spring and svmamer, of poplar sap limiber, 

 pine saps, sap gum and the like, sawed and slowly 

 air dried during spring and summer. These in- 

 juries are due to imdescribed fungi. 

 V. Echinodontium tinctorium attacks western hemlock 

 causing "cork," — like Tramples pini; also in 

 spruce and red fir. (Reference: For. Bull. 33, 

 p. 15). 



