i;3 



A Conifer Disease. 



[JUNE, 



nigra by Hartig, who recorded it as an injurious parasite in the 

 spruce woods of the Bavarian Forest. 



The leaves are attacked and killed by the fungus, but instead 

 of falling when dead they are bound together by mycelium, and 

 remain as a compact brown mass clustered round the branch 

 from which they sprang. These dense clusters of dead leaves > 

 fixed to the branches by dark-coloured cobweb-like mycelium, 



• Seedlings of Spruce Attacked by " Herpotrichia Nigra." 



are very characteristic. The fruit of the fungus and also minute 

 sclerotia are produced on the leaves. 



The parasite is most prevalent in nurseries at high elevations, 

 and has been recorded as attacking spruce (Picea excelsa), moun- 

 tain pine {Pinus Montana), and juniper (Juniperus communis). 

 It occurs in Germany and Norway. It does not appear to have 

 been previously recorded in Great Britain. 



The following observations with a view to its prevention are 



