50 



They occurred chiefly in the simiiner wood, and were filled with a red- 

 brown powder. There is no white lining as in the wood attacked ])y 

 Tranietes 2}ini Black spots appear here and there in the wood, and 

 when they disappear the holes take their place. The holes increase in 

 size and number, and in the last stages of decomposition the wood has 

 become a shredded mass of 3^ellow-brown fibers, which feel much like 

 straw. It is completel}^ honey conibed in ever}^ direction. The annual 

 rings of wood separate from one another, forming thin plates per- 

 forated by thousands of small holes. The transformation of this 

 fibrous material takes place from the root up into the trunk for from 3 

 to 20 feet (1 to 6 meters). In some trees the innermost rings of wood 

 are afiected. As the wood becomes more and more rotted a hole is 

 formed which gradually increases in diameter, eventually sometimes 

 becoming so large that the weakened trunk is blown over by the wind. 

 On other trees one or the other side of the trunk may be afiected. 

 Two or more separate holes ma}^ be formed which join near the base 

 of the tree. 



A more lengthy description of the changes in the wood just described 

 is not deemed necessary, in view of the fact that the active agent which 

 brings about the changes is as yet not full}" determined. If it proves 

 to be Polyporus annosus Fr. it would seem that the injury done in the 

 Eastern forests by this fungus is not very large, which may be con- 

 sidered a fortunate circumstance, as this fungus is one naturalh^ to be 

 dreaded by the forester, as it is combated only with the greatest difli- 

 culty and expense. 



AGARICUS MELLEUS VAHL. 



]Many trees were found in which the well-known rhizomorph strands 

 of this fungus grew under the bark. The summer of 1899 was exceed- 

 ingly dr}", and on that account the development of Agaricine^ of all 

 kinds was a very meager one. On the various excursions made through 

 the Maine forests but one tree was found on which the 3'ellow fruiting 

 organ of this fungus was developing. The manner in which this fun- 

 gus grows on the roots of the trees and brings about their death has 

 been so fully described by Hartig and others that it seems hardh^ 

 necessary to describe it here. The fungus grows within the living 

 roots and cambium of a tree and speedily brings about a disturbance 

 in its absorbing organs which results in ultimate death. The wood is 

 rarely if ever afiected to any extent, so that lumbermen use the dis- 

 eased trees for lumbering purposes, making no distinction ])etween 

 them and live trees as long as the wood is entirel}^ sound. Diseased 

 trees should be cut at once when recognized. 



