GOOSEBERRY POLYPORUS 185 



present in the burrows of mice or other animals suggested 

 the idea to Hartig that the spores might be carried by the 

 fur of animals — mice, etc. — from one locality to another, 

 and thus spread the disease. Brefeld has shown that a 

 conidial form of reproduction is also possessed by this 

 fungus, which may be a further means of diffusing the 

 fungus. 



Hartig, Zersetzungserscheinungen des Hohes, p. 14, pi. i.-iv. 

 Marshall Ward, Timber and some of its Diseases, p. 142. 

 Brefeld, Unters. aus dem Gessamtgeb. der Mykol., vol. viii. 

 (called Heterobasidion annosum). 



GOOSEBEERY POLYPORUS 



{Fomes ribis, Fries.) 



A parasite not uncommon on the stems of old gooseberry 

 and currant bushes, growing in an imbricated manner ; 

 that is, several specimens growing above each other on 

 the stem of the host. 



The pileus is woody, thin, and horizontal, upper surface 

 yellowish-brown, minutely velvety when young, becoming 

 almost bald with age, usually with concentric zones. Pores 

 very short, hymenium brownish-grey ; flesh thin, rather 

 soft, rusty brown. 



Preventive Means. — The fungus is perennial, and only, 

 as a rule, grows on old plants, which from every point of 

 view should be replaced by young trees. 



TINDER FUNGUS 



{Fames fomentarius, Fries.) 

 This fungus is a very destructive wound-parasite, attack- 

 ing the beech (Fagus sylvaticd) more especially, although 



