112 



Mycologia 



down as a side shoot : this would be eventually killed in its turn, 

 another would arise further down, etc. Thus, while the distal 

 portion of the branch was dead and often entirely devoid of bark, 

 living- shoots could be found below. Eventually the whole branch 

 would die and others, sometimes appearing at the branch axil at 

 the trunk would be killed in their turn. It seemed as if the dis- 

 ease entered the trunk in this way^ via the dead branches, the 

 death of those at the top of the tree causing a stagheaded aspect 

 characteristic of the disease. Only in a few cases was a promi- 

 nent crown of suckers observed on the trunk such as occurs in 

 the chestnut bark disease. However, the large number of new 

 branches, mainly orthotropous, which had arisen in the manner 

 described, marked the affected trees in a distinctive manner. 

 Eventually, the death of the whole tree ensued. 



That the progress of the disease was slow was indicated, among- 

 other things, by the fact that no sudden wilting of the leaves oc- 

 curred on the affected parts. Moreover, the writer has observed 

 trees in the neighborhood of New Haven, Conn., afflicted with 

 this trouble, or something very similar, for a number of years,, 

 and they are not yet entirely dead. It is significant that butternut 

 fruits have been scarce about New Haven for many years. 



Dr. G. P. Clinton says that he has noticed the trouble for a 

 number of years, and while he has not investigated it carefully, 

 has had the general impression that the cause is to be looked for 

 in a general decline in the vigor of the host species, just as he 

 believes is the case with the American chestnut and with Hicoria. 

 Mr. J. J. Levison, formerly N. Y. City forester, and now con- 

 sulting forester at Sea Cliff, L. I., states that he has also noticed 

 the disease for some years. Last summer the writer saw affected 

 trees in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and this winter at West 

 Hartford, Conn. Apparently the disease is widespread. 



There was no evidence of insect injury about the trees, but 

 wherever it was possible to examine closely one of the diseased 

 limbs the fungus Melanconmm oblongum Bepk. was conspicuous 

 on the dead bark, and often in the immediate vicinity of the 

 healthy tissue. The diseased inner bark was much blackened and 

 formed a strong contrast to the light colored healthy inner bark, 

 the line of demarcation between the two being very clearly defined. 



