MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



cult to state exactly how pecky a certain piece is, but the 

 samples tested were considered as fair averages of the grade 

 generally used for sidewalks, etc. The block marked 5 

 was very much more pecky than the others. From the 

 third table it appears that when wet the wood is less strong 

 than when thoroughly dry, which is true of all woods. 

 The breaking of the pecky blocks was almost without ref- 

 erence to the holes. The wood between the holes had to 

 stand the load, and that it was capable of holding up as 

 much as it did is another proof of its comparative sound- 

 ness. The number of tests made so far is as yet too small 

 to determine whether any relation exists between the abso- 

 lute weight of wood fiber present in the pecky logs and the 

 breaking strength. 



MYCELIUM. 



Within the holes, and throughout the heartwood of a dis- 

 eased tree, the mycelium of some fungus is constantly met 

 with. This is present but sparingly, and rarely forms ex- 

 tended masses or felts. In spite of extensive and search- 

 ing examinations of a very large number of cypress trees 

 for several years, no fruiting organ has yet been met with. 

 The only fungus ever reported was the one mentioned by 

 Sargent * which, as far as can be determined now, had 

 little adequate foundation. Of the other fungi hitherto 

 reported as growing on Taxodium none could be brought 

 into any causal connection with the mycelium always found 

 in the tree. It is to be hoped that before long the fruiting 

 form may be discovered. 



The disintegration of the wood is, in many respects, like 

 that brought about by Trametes Pini, but so far there is 

 no evidence to prove that this is the fungus which causes 

 the " peckiness." 



Wherever there is any sign of decay in the cypress wood, 



* Sargent, C. S. Forest trees of N. A. 10th Census 9 : 184. 

 24 



