98 THE ‘‘BLUING”’ AND THE ‘‘RED ROT” OF THE PINE. 
cellulose goes on, large numbers of fibers separate in a body from the 
adjoining ones, often along the lines of medullary rays, and the spaces 
so formed are rapidly filled with fungus threads, giving rise to the 
white sheets already spoken of. (See Pl. X, tig. 2.) 
CONDITIONS FAVORING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ‘‘RED-ROT”’ FUNGUS. 
One of the most important factors which influences the development 
of the *‘red-rot” fungus, and one which holds for all fungi, is water. 
If the trees in the Black Hills were dry, the red rot would make but 
slight progress. At the time when the attack takes place the trees are 
full of water, especially the tops, for these have lived longer than the 
butts of the trees, and water was pumped into them long after the 
lower parts of the trees were dead. The top, therefore, is the most 
favorable point for the ‘‘red-rot” fungus, and it is there that it is 
found developing most rapidly. From the top the fungus may grow 
down, so as to affect the lower part of the trunk, but as this has been 
drying continuously since the beetle attack one will find that it is very 
rare for those parts of the trunk situated at points 5 to 30 feet from the 
ground to be seriously injured by this fungus in the first years after 
the death of the trees. This is an exceedingly important considera- 
tion when the practical phase of this subject is taken into account. 
The relation of the water supply to the ‘‘red rot” is illustrated very 
well in the large number of trees where the bark has died and peeled 
off from one side of the tree. On Pl. X, fig. 2, a photograph of such 
a case is reproduced. The bark has fallen off on the south and south- 
west sides of the tree, but it still is attached to the opposite side. The 
result of this peeling becomes evident very soon, for on that side the 
wood dried very rapidly, while on the other side the bark prevented 
such evaporation. The wood remained moist, and here the ‘* red-rot” 
fungus found a footing and conditions favorable for its growth. The 
result was that in the course of some months the north and northeast 
sides of that trunk were completely decayed, while the opposite side 
remained sound. A similar instance is shown in the largest section on 
Pl. VI, fig. 2; in this case at the base of the tree. 
Where the bull pine grows on hillsides not exposed to the sun or 
wind, or where there is much undergrowth, one will frequently find 
the *‘red-rot” fungus entering the trees at the base before it attacks 
the top. This is likewise due to the fact that the water has not left the 
trunk witb sufficient rapidity to prevent the attack. 
FINAL STAGES AND FRUITING ORGANS. 
When the tops become rotted almost to the heart they become so 
weak that they are broken oft by the first wind. In those sections of 
tee i pedegenan garages ven ose 
