THE NATURALIST 



FOR 1912. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



BRITISH MYCOLOGISTS. 



Apparently as a result of the paper on ' The Study of 

 Fungi by Local Natural History Societies,' by Mr. H. Wager, 

 F.R.S., which appeared in The Naturalist for October, the 

 British Mycological Society has issued a circular to the various 

 provincial natural history societies, asking for information 

 relating to 



SILVER LEAF. 



The very serious disease known as ' Silver-leaf ' (so called 

 because the leaves become of a ' silvery ' colour), which affects 

 fruit trees, particularly the ' Victoria ' plum, is now thought 

 to be caused probably by Stereum purpttre-iim, the sporophores 

 of which appear on the dead wood of the affected trees. Ob- 

 servations on the following points would be valuable : — 



{a) The distribution of Stereum purpureum as a parasite 



or saprophyte in the district. 

 (&) The habitat, with exact identification of the dead tree, 

 shrub, or wood on which the sporophores are found. 

 (c) Did ' silvery ' foliage occur on the tree or shrub pre- 

 vious to the occurrence of the sporophores on the 

 dead wood ? 



POLYPORES AND CLAVARIAS. 



Many British trees are greatly injured by the growth of 

 fungi belonging to the Polyporaceae. Information is wanted as 

 to:— 



{a) The name of the tree affected ; and 



(b) The name of the Polypore causing the injury. 



A revision of the British Clavariacese is being made by 

 Mr. A. D. Cotton, F.L.S., of Kew, who would be much obliged 

 if members of Local Natural History Societies would kindly 

 forward to him specimens of this order for identification and 

 examination. 



The local societies are also asked to furnish to the British 

 Mycological Society particulars of any papers which have been 

 pubHshed with regard to fungi. 



THE CLUB-SHAPED FUNGI. 



One of these circulars has been received by the Yorkshire 

 Naturahsts' Union. The clause relating to the Clavariacese or 

 club-shaped fungi will, perhaps, principally appeal to northern 

 mycologists, and we trust that any workers will send specimens 

 to Mr. Cotton as suggested. For some years past the Yorkshire 

 Mycological Committee has regularly sent specimens of these 



1912 Jan. I. -^ 



