ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
BULGE TIN 
MISCELLANEOUS. INFORMATION. 
Nos. 147-148.] MARCH and APRIL. (1899. 
DCXXXIX.—PLANT DISEASES-I. TREE ROOT-ROT. 
(Agaricus [Armillaria] melleus, Vahl.) 
(With Plate.) 
Notwithstanding the existence of numerous excellent treatises 
and handbooks on the diseases of plants produced by parasitic 
fungi, there appears to be still a need of descriptions of the more 
common ones in moderately popular language, accompanied by 
characteristic portraits of the organisms and of the mischief they 
effect. Some semi-official correspondence has taken place between 
Kew and the Board of Agriculture on the subject. It en 
m pde to publish a series of articles in this —€ from 
time in the Kew Bulletin. They may possibly be 
spine eventually into a volume, which will be sold run 
Agaricus melleus is one of the most generally distributed and 
destructive of “ toadstools," attacking all kinds of fruit trees, many 
broad-leaved tores trees, also all European and many imported 
conifers. Hartig records having recognised its mycelium i in fossil 
wood of Cupressinox. ylon. As a saprophyte it occurs in dense 
clusters at the base of stumps, and also on posts and Worked timber. 
The cap or pileus is 2 to 3 inches across when expanded, pale 
honey-colour, and ornamented with numerous minute scales; 
stem 4 to 6 inches long, coloured like the pileus; gills white, 
with just a suspicion of pink, and, when young, hidden by a 
membrane stretching from the stem to the edge of the pileus. 
As the latter expands this membrane breaks away ved the edge 
of the pileus and forms a ring or collar round the he 
spores are white, and settle on objeets under the gills hi the form 
of a dense white powder. 
3282—1375—7/99 Wt92 D&S 29 
