PLANT DISEASES OF CONNECTICUT. 349 
off at the surface, showed no conspicuous growth of any 
fungus, but upon microscopic examination, especially after 
keeping the plants in a moist chamber, the characteristic myce- 
lium of this fungus could be found in more or less abundance. 
Cultures were readily obtained, and while these looked very 
similar to those of the potato Rhizoctonia, we are not sure 
whether they are identical. It seems, however, to be the same 
thing that causes dampening-off of a variety of plants in seed- 
beds and greenhouses. , 
This same fungus was also found dampening off coniferous 
seedlings in the Elm City Nursery, especially those of the yew, 
Taxus cuspidata. Those in charge stated that it was almost 
impossible to grow seedlings of this species, as it seems to be 
particularly subject to this injury. They found that if, as soon 
as the trouble appeared, they sprayed the ground around the 
affected plants with Bordeaux mixture, and repeated the spray- 
ing when necessary, they could save a fair percentage of the 
seedlings. 
Sun Scorch. This may perhaps be considered a combination 
of winter injury and sun scorch. Various evergreens, especially 
hemlock, suffered severely from this widespread trouble in the 
early spring of 1911. While in most cases merely the leaves 
were killed in greater or less numbers, yet when this injury was 
severe enough the plants themselves died as a result of the 
severe defoliation that followed. Often only the outer ends of 
the leaves were killed, turning a reddish-brown in contrast with 
the green of the uninjured portion. 
The trouble was probably due to unusually warm weather in 
March and April, starting evaporation from the leaves while 
the roots were still frozen in the ground and unable to readily 
replace this loss. Possibly part of the trouble may have been 
caused by the warm, moist weather in January and February 
and the subsequent colder weather. Plants recently re-planted 
suffered more than those well rooted. 
HOPS, Humulus japonicus. 
Powpery Mitpew, Spherotheca Humuli (DC.) Burr. This ; 
fungus forms a whitish, powdery growth on the leaves and stems 
with a mature fruiting stage showing as very small, blackish, 
crowded specks, chiefly on the under side of the leaves. It was 
