214 
able to procure some specimens illustrating the vine disease 
* Mar ouia " that has been prevalent in the Douro district for 
some tim 
These specimens have been forwarded to-day by the steamship 
“Arab” to Southampton, to be transmitted direct to Kew Gardens, 
and I have informed the Director of their despatch. 
any experiments have recently been made in this country in 
the hope of discovering a remedy for this disease. The most 
successful appears to be the use of sulphate of copper, sulphur, 
and lime, for powdering the vines, but there is great uncertainty 
as to the best method of treatment. 
Should, therefore, Fes scs reach Kew Gardens in good 
condition, it is hoped the Curators will be able to make some 
experiments, as their pido on the disease would, I am sure, be 
greatly valued by the Portuguese Agricultural Society. 
I have, &oc., 
H. G. MACDONELL. 
The Marquess of Salisbury, K.G., 
e., &c., &c. 
REPORT. 
he living vine, forwarded to Kew for investigation, arrived in 
esta Mgr and enabled a thorough nn exami- 
nation, also cultures from various parts to be undertake 
The result of moli examination proves conclusively ‘that the 
disease is caused by a parasitic fungus, which in the first instance 
attacks the younger root branches, extendin pes thence into 
the thicker branches, and finally attacking the collar of the stem. 
The mycelium first appears in the vessels of the root, which not 
unfrequently become filled with a dense weft of slender colour- 
less hyphae. From thence the mycelium extends to the adjacent 
tissues, eis the cells and causing a brown colouration of the 
attacked parts. The contents of cells attacked by the mycia 
assume a Vides form, being at first nee. finally clear 
brown. These spheres become ruby red when treated with an 
alcoholic rient of alkannin, and blackish brown wid a one per 
cent. solution — acid, thus proving the oleaginous nature 
of their se 
Portions of the. vet placed in a damp chamber soon became 
covered with white cottony mycelium, which gradually changed 
to a brown colour and pussed into slender cord-like strands or 
op 
Numerous fasciculate conidiophores bearing very minu ute 
— ees conidia were also Circe from blackish micro- 
rotia immersed in the bark of the root. 
"The kicker form of fruit has not been observed, as this is pro- 
duced only on old and very a decayed portions of diseased 
th i 
Lee hence the name of ungus cannot be given with 
- nevertheless the general habit and morphology of the 
| facis BÀ its location in the root, the a of radiati action = 
cvs — and tis — eoi er 
