‘18 
partially decayed have been attacked by the fungus, which, finding a 
suitable nidus, has speedily covered them with its white thread-like 
tubes. These mycelial tubes spread through the soil with amazing 
rapidity, attacking and destroying every plant that comes in their 
way. 
PREVENTION AND REMEDY. 
When preparing the ground for planting care should be taken to 
remove fern-stems and decaying wood as completely as possible. 
Where lime can be procured the soil should be sparingly top-dressed 
and the dressing turned in some time before planting. Soot-dressings 
would also prove beneficial. The best remedy that I am able to suggest 
for this pest would be the saturation of the ground with tar-water, and, 
where the disease is not too far advanced, the free use of the pruning- 
knife, cutting away all affected parts unsparingly, then applying a 
light dressing of Stockholm tar mixed with clay to the wounds. So 
far as I am aware, the only cultivator who has tested this remedy at 
present is Mr. Reynolds, of Cambridge. I had the opportunity of 
examining several trees in his orchard in which decay had commenced 
at the base of the trunk, and found indications of the arrest of the 
disease in each case; a new corky growth was forming at the edge of 
the decayed bark, and the trees were assuming a more healthy 
appearance. 
Unless precautionary measures are taken, planting trees in places 
where others have been killed by the fungus is simply fatal to the new 
tree, which may be destroyed the first year. On this point the 
experience of Mr. Reynolds is conclusive. After having repeatedly 
replaced diseased trees without a single instance of success, although 
the soil on the spot was exposed to the air during winter, he saturated 
the ground with tar-water before planting, and met with complete 
success inevery instance; in no case has a tree treated in this way 
been attacked by the fungus so far. A single tree planted last year 
without the previous application of tar-water to the soil was destroyed 
by the fungus, while those protected by its application are untouched. 
It is evident therefore that experiments in the application of tar and 
tar-water may be carried on with the most hopeful prospects of good 
results. 
Pulverised sulphur, mixed with the light soil and worked in 
amongst the roots, would prove of service, but is less easy of applica- 
tion than tar-water, and would be more expensive. A top-dressing of 
soot, or, still better, of soot witha little sulphur, turned in to a full spade’s 
depth, would be attended with excellent results, as would the applica- 
tion of weak-brine solutions. A light top-dressing of gas-lime would 
also prove of value. 
Although I have indentified root-fungus as Lycoperdon gemmatum 
further observation may possibly show that mycelial states of other 
fungi are mixed with it; but this would not affect the mode of 
treatment. 
