143 



An examination of a considerable number of specimens of the 

 fungus on apple and quince leaves shows that the spores in the 

 more mature pycnidia are not " hyaline," as originally described 

 by Saccardo,* nor "slightly smoky," as described by Martin f 

 and by Ellis and Everhart J, but considerably smoky, even ap- 

 proaching olive-brown, the depth of color depending upon the 

 maturity of the spores. There is a possibility that the descrip- 

 tions referred to were made from immature specimens. 



I have been able to obtain artificial cultures of the fungus 

 readily. In the cultures, the spores ooze out of the pycnidia in 

 dull black masses. The culture work is being continued and in- 

 oculations are being made by Mr. Carl P. Hartley, whose results 

 will be published later. 



The color of the mature spores is more like the color of the 

 spores of a Coniotliyrinvi than a Pliyllosticta, and CoiiiotJiyrhun 

 tirolense Bubak,§ occurring on pear leaves, may be only a ma- 

 ture Phyllosticta pirina Sacc. I have not had an opportunity to 

 compare specimens of the two fungi. 



On account of the color of the spores as they have been found 

 on the leaves and as they develop in artificial cultures, together 

 with the general character of the pycnidia, it seems advisable to 

 transfer the fungus from the genus Phyllosticta to the genus Con- 

 iothyriiim, and the name Coniothyrium pirina (Sacc.) ( = Phyl- 

 losticta pirina Sacc. Michelia i : 134. 1878) is proposed. 



Acknowledgments are due to Mrs. Flora W. Patterson, my- 

 cologist of the United States Department of Agriculture, and to 

 Professor P. A. Saccardo, to whom specimens of the fungus 

 on apple and quince leaves were submitted for determination and 

 comparison with type specimens of Phyllosticta pirina Sacc. 



John L. Sheldon. 



West Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, 



MORGANTOWN, W. Va. 



* Saccardo, P. A. Michelia i : 134. 1878. Syll. Fung. 3 : 7. 1884. 

 t Martin, George. Journ. Mycol. 2 : 17. 1886. 



t Ellis, J. B., & Everhart, B. M. The North American Phyllostictas, 36. 1900. 

 § Bubak, Fr. Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschr. 54: 183. 1904. Saccardo, Syll. Fung. 

 18 : 309. 1906. 



