The fungus is at first only superficial and forms a pink 

 incrustation on the bark. Later, the hyphae of the fungus 

 penetrate the bark and kill it ; the dead bark then peels 

 off from the wood. The fungus does not appear to 

 damage the wood directly. The pink incrustation spreads 

 gradually and may extend for a distance of several feet 

 over the stem and the adjacent branches. In some cases, 

 however, where the growth of the fungus is limited, a 

 cankered appearance of the stem is produced. 



The remedies suggested are as follows : 



The removal of the fungus and adjacent bark when it is 

 small, i.e., in an early stage, and the sealing of the wound. 

 If the fungus has covered a considerable portion of the 

 bark and rings the branch the whole branch should be 

 removed. 



On young trees, from one to two years old, the stems 

 should be cut away below the affected part. 



FETCH : " A bark disease of Hevea, tea &c.," Circulars 

 and Agric. Journ., Royal Botanical Gardens., Ceylon, Vol. 

 IV, No. 21, 1909. 



Corticium calceum, Massee, is said to cause a similar 

 disease in the Federated Malay States. 



HYDNACE.E. 



IRPEX FLAVUS, KLOTSCH. 



(Root Fungus of Para Rubber.; 



In addition to attacking Para rubber in the Straits, the 

 fungus has been recorded on clove trees in Malacca and is 

 known to cause injury to the coffee plant in the East. It 

 has been reported from Java, Ceylon, Queensland and 

 North America. 



The Para rubber trees in the Straits which were attacked 

 were in a young condition. An examination showed that 

 the roots were incrusted with a white mycelium and 

 that the collar of the stem was dead. The fungus is said 

 to occupy a limited area of the soil in contrast with the 

 other root fungus of Para rubber (Fomes semitostus) which 

 spreads rapidly and covers a considerable area. 



Diagnosis: Pileus effuse, spongy, soft, yellow ; margin 

 reflexed slightly ; teeth compressed, seriate. 



RIDLEY: Agric. Bull, of the Straits and Federated 

 Malay States ', Vol. V, No. 3, p. 64, 1906 



"This is regarded by some as being identical with Corticium li latino- fuscum. 



37 



