REPORT OF THE STATE BOTANIST 1908 29 
REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS 
Brachysporium obovatum (Berk.) Sacc. 
Bark of hop hornbeam, Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) 
K. Koch. Lyndonville, Orleans co. March. C. E. Fairman. A 
form not fully agreeing with the description of the type. It grows 
in tufts instead of velvety patches and the spores are often oblong 
instead of obovate and the septa vary from one to three. 
Castanea dentata ( Marsh.) Borkh. 
This valuable tree has been attacked by a destructive fungus, 
Diaporthe parasitica Murr. In the parks of Brooklyn 
and New York city and in the country around these cities many 
trees have been injured or killed by it and many have been cut 
in consequence of the attack and its destructive effects. Numerous 
articles have been published concerning this disease and various 
experiments tried, designed to check or overcome the ravages of 
the fungus, but none of them has been successful or satisfactory. 
The fungus attacks the tree in wounds or abrasions of the bark 
and by killing the inner vital part of the bark in which it lives 
and spreads, it kills the tree in two or three years. It apparently 
does not otherwise affect the wood which may still be utilized 
after the death of the tree. he disease has been reported to 
have extended as far north as Dutchess county and a special 
trip was made to that region for its investigation, but no signs 
of its presence were found. Nor was it found in Albany, Rens- 
selaer and Steuben counties in which it has been sought. On 
the other hand wherever the chestnut trees in these and other 
counties have been observed by myself the past season, they have 
generally appeared to be in good health and vigor and unusually 
full of fruit. A correspondent who is interested in the study and 
observance of the disease reports that he did not find it in the 
Catskill mountain region. It is therefore improbable that it has 
spread far in our State, 1f at all, either north or west of the limits 
assigned to it last year. It is more likely that the pessimistic 
views concerning its rapid spread and destructive consequences, 
entertained by some writers, will scarcely be realized. Unusually 
destiuctive outbreaks of parasitic fungi are apt to be dependent 
on unusual climatic conditions and therefore to be of short duration. 
