THE RED ROT OF CONIFERS 7 



frequently, in the spruce woods of South Germany. That it affects the 

 conifers in other eastern countries is evidenced by the report of Khan 

 (6) on its occurrence in India in 1904. 



Von Schrenk (2) has reported in a general way on its occurrence 

 in Maine and other New England states on white pine, red spruce, 

 white spruce, hemlock and tamarack. The parasite attacks living trees 

 after they have reached the age at which they form heart- wood, and 

 honeycombs the wood in such a way that it appears to be filled with 

 small holes, many of which seem to have a slimy white lining. 



The writer has tried to secure information which would afford 

 accurate data concerning its occurrence in Vermont, by the collection 

 of statistics from different parts of the State. The percentages of dis- 

 ease in spruce and mixed stands appear to be fairly uniform in all 

 places where data were obtained. With the exception of a few local 

 situations, either badly infected or entirely free from disease, one may 

 expect to find in most cuttings losses varying from 3 to 5 percent. 



The presence of the disease, however, was not as uniform in 

 pine trees as in the others mentioned. Many small tracts, especially 

 isolated ones, were found where no disease was apparent. On the 

 other hand other places were found where many trees were affected 

 and the loss was very large. 



With the exception of the Passumpsic valley, which appears to be 

 excellent pine land, and where very little red rot was found, the dis- 

 tribution of the disease is irregular. Along the shore of Lake Cham- 

 plain, tracts less than ten miles apart were located where both ex- 

 tremes of conditions were found. The Connecticut valley shows a sim- 

 ilar condition. 



It is the writer's opinion that the best pine lands show the greatest 

 freedom from disease because the more rapid and uniform growth 

 results in better self-pruning and healthier general conditions. 



V. THE FUNGUS 



Name. The fungus causing the red rot of conifers is one of the 

 Basidiomycetes, Trametes Pini. It is a parasite of growing coniferous 

 trees and assumes the characters of a saprophyte, (that is to say, a 

 fungus living upon a dead plant or animal) to a greater or less extent 

 upon the death of the tree, so long as the moisture and food contents 

 of the host remain favorable to its development. The question of its 

 adaptability to a saprophytic mode of life is one of much economic im- 



