17 



A CONIFER DISEASE. 



Botrytis cinerea, Pers. Syn. Fung. p. 690. (1801). 



Syn. Botrytis Doiiglasii, Tubeuf, Beitr. zur Kenntniss der 

 Baumkrankheiten, p. 4. (1888). 



This disease was first observed in Germany by Professor 

 Tubeuf (i), attacking the topmost shoots of seedlings, also the 

 tips of the lower branches of older trees of the Douglas fir 

 {Pseudotsuga Douglasii, Carr.). The diseased shoots curve 

 downwards or become variously twisted, and the leaves die and 

 separate from the branches, but are frequently prevented from 

 falling, being held in a tuft by a delicate weft of brown cobweb- 

 like mycelium. The author also succeeded in inoculating young- 

 shoots of the silver fir {Abies pectinata, D.C.), spruce {Picea 

 cxcelsa, Link), and larch [Larix europcza, D.C.) with the same 

 disease. It has also been observed on junipers. 



Its occurrence has been recorded in Hungary on species of 

 Abies, Picea and Larix by Tuzson (2). 



The disease was first observed in this country on seedling 

 Wellingtonias (Fig. 1), the symptoms agreeing in every detail 

 with those described by Tubeuf. It was, however, proved that 

 the fungus causing this disease was not a new species as 

 originally supposed, but the ubiquitous Botrytis cinerea, Pers. 

 This determination was corroborated by Behrens (4) and 

 Tuzson (2) and is accepted by Tubeuf. 



Two years ago a number of diseased larch seedlings were 

 submitted to Kew for examination during the month of 

 May. These were found to be attacked by the Botrytis, whose 

 conidiophores covered the brown but yet hanging leaves of the 

 young shoots, which were much contorted. The young leaves 

 of larch and Scots fir ( Finns silvestris, L.) infected with spores 

 obtained from the diseased larch seedlings sent to Kew, turned 

 yellow after four days, and at the expiration of ten days after 



