TIMBER STORAGE IN THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN STATES. 
33 
ceeded in rotting the planks at practically the same rate at which 
they wore down mechanically. 
Of the true gill fungi may be mentioned two species — Schizophyl- 
lum commune Fr. (PL VIII, fig. 2) and Lentinus lepicleus Fr. (PI. 
VII, fig. 4, and PI. VIII, fig. 1). The former occurs everywhere in 
the United States on both coniferous and hardwood timber. It is 
white to grayish, very thin and flexible, woolly above, and has very 
distinct gills below, which are split longitudinally at the edge and 
each half curled over, much as a dandelion stem curls when split. 
It is a comparatively 
small fungus, usually 
not projecting out 
more than 1 or 1J 
inches. At times it is 
attached at the center 
of the back and then 
presents a circular out- 
line with the gills ra- 
diating from a common 
center. When dry it is 
much curled and in- 
rolled, but during 
rainy weather it readily 
revives and appears 
fresh and expanded 
again. Fortunately, it 
deteriorates wood but 
slightly and need occa- 
sion no fear among 
lumber users. 
Lentinus lepideus Fr. 
is a fungus of the 
"toadstool" type, with 
a circular, broadly 
convex, scaly cap, and a 
stout, fibrous, central or eccentric stem. It is white throughout, 
except for the brownish scales on the upper side of the caps and on 
the stem. The under side is provided with coarse gills, which become 
considerably toothed and split as the plant ages. 
This fungus is a very rapid grower and primarily attacks timber 
in contact with the soil. It rots pine railway ties very rapidly, 
growing through sandy soil from one stick to another. Serious out- 
breaks of the fungus in pine warehouse floors have been reported 
several times, and it should be carefully guarded against in lumber 
storage yards. 
Pig. 34. — Built-up ■ pine foundations in a retail yard in 
Tennessee. Many of the foundation timbers are seri- 
ously decayed and infection may pass to timbers»piled 
in contact with them. Figure 17 shows what hap- 
pened to a structural timber placed on a foundation 
in this yard similar to these. 
