Beech trees in some places suffered from the onslaughts of the 

 large caterpillars of the " Buff tip " moth, Pygcera bucephala. 

 CJopper-leaf beeches were especially chosen by them, and their 

 leafage was stripped before the offenders were discovered. Some 

 :small trees were much injured by these caterpillars. 



FUNGI. 



Among the injuries to crops in the past year by fungi, those 

 caused to wheat by rust and mildew were most conspicuous. 

 In consequence of the extensive prevalence of these disorders a 

 circular with a schedule of questions was issued by the Board 

 of Agriculture in the summer to agriculturists in the chief corn- 

 growing districts inviting a statement their experiences upon 

 the subject. As a full report on ru&t and mildew, embodying 

 the information thus received, will be forthcoming in the begin- 

 ning of 1893, it is not necessary to deal now with this subject. 



In addition to the very extensive attack of mildew, caused 

 by this fungus, Puccinia graminis, the wheat plants in many 

 districts suffered from the action of another fungus upon their 

 straw, chaff, and corn, which had evidently hindered the 

 full and perfect development of the grain. This fungus was 

 identified as Cladosporium herbarum, a spore-bearing form of 

 Sphceria herbarum,, and is described at length in this report. 

 Barley plants were also infested by this fungus in some localities, 

 which it appears had not been previously noticed as affecting 

 Taarley. 



Cases of clover, both of Red Clover, TrifoHum pratense and 

 Tnfolium incarnatum, affected by the fungus Polythrincium 

 trifolii (Kunze) were reported late in November. As a remedy 

 it was recommended to apply 40 or 50 Ibs. of powdered sulphur 

 with a sulphurator on the first fine day : the effect of this has not 

 yet been reported. 



The destructive hop fungus, Podosphaera castagnei, has done 

 comparatively little harm to this year's hop crop, and the potato 

 fungus, Phytophthora infestans, on which further experiments 

 have been made this season with Bouillie bordelaise, was happily 

 far less dangerous than usual. 



Plasmodiophora brassicce, the curious slime fungus, having 

 some of the characteristics of low animal organisms, was 

 extremely destructive to turnips of all kinds during the summer 

 and autumn, causing the distortions and malformations upon 

 their roots known as Club-root, Club-foot, Finger-and-toe, and 

 Anbury in this country ; Vingerziekt in Belgium, Kohl-hernie in 

 Germany, Botch in Australia, and Maladie digitoire in France. An 

 account of this fungus is given in this report, together with 

 recommendations for the prevention of the evil. 



Apple branches and twigs were received from various 

 quarters showing abnormal conditions due in some cases mani- 

 festly to the fungus belonging to the group Ascomycetes, termed 



