DISEASES OF TAXODIUM AND LIBOCEDRUS. 



Some years ago, while collecting in the cypress swamps 

 of Arkansas, a peculiar defect of the bald cypress, Taxodium 

 distichum, was noticed, popularly known as "pecky" or 

 " P e o v " cypress. Further investigation showed that the 

 defect was prevalent wherever the cypress grew in abun- 

 dance, and that fungus threads were constantly associated 

 with the pecky wood. This led to the investigations here 

 recorded. 



In pursuing these investigations little could have been 

 done without the generous assistance of numerous lumber 

 companies. Among those to whom thanks are due are the 

 Lutcher & Moore Cypress Lumber Co. of Lutcher, La. ; 

 Mr. M. E. Leniingof Cape Girardeau, Mo. ; Towle Bros, of 

 Towle, Placer Co., Cal. ; the Stimson Mill Co. of Ballard, 

 Wash.; Mr. A. J. Johnson of Astoria, Oregon, and Birce 

 & Smart of Emigrant Gap, Cal. 



To Dr. W. G. Farlow and Dr. H. W. Harkness I am 

 indebted for many suggestions; to Dr. J. J. Friih of 

 Zurich, for his courtesy in answering some questions; to 

 Maj. B. M. Harrod of New Orleans for assistance in 

 obtaining buried cypress logs, and to Prof. C. K. Sanger 

 and Dr. G. Alleman for suggestions on chemical questions. 

 I also take pleasure in expressing thanks to Dr. Wm. 

 Trelease for much encouragement and generous assistance. 



THE DISEASE OF TAXODIUM KNOWN AS " PECKY " CYPRESS. 



HISTORICAL. 



The first mention of the disease of cypress known as 

 " pecky," or " peggy " cypress, is made by Dickeson & 

 Brown.* They say of it : " That species of decay to which 

 it [the cypress] is most liable, shows itself in partial or de- 

 tached spots at greater or less distance, but often in very 

 close proximity to each other. It is a decomposition of the 



* Dickeson, Montroville W., & And. Brown. On the cypress timber of 

 Mississippi and Louisiana. (Am. Journ. of Science, ii. 5 : 15. 1848.) 



