A STUDY OF HEART-ROT IN WESTERN HEMLOCK. 3) 
due to a poor physical quality of the wood, but usually arises from 
the fact that great difficulty is experienced in determining the actual 
extent of the advance decay from the more evident heart-rot when 
the trees are bucked and scaled in the woods. Some of the logs go 
to the mills to all appearances sound, but in reality with a part of — 
the log in the incipient stages of decay. Consequently, when the 
log is sawed into boards they check or completely fall into a dry 
crumbly decay when exposed to drying conditions for any con- 
siderable length of time. Such conditions cause a discrimination 
against western hemlock by those who have witnessed this deteriora- 
tion after sawing. A better understanding of the real causes under- 
lying this result and a true conception of the usefulness of hemlock 
wood will aid greatly in removing such objections as the trades now 
hold against lumber sawed from this species of tree. 
ECHINODONTIUM TINCTORIUM. 
THE FUNGUS AND ITS HOSTS. 
With few exceptions, as will be shown, Echinodontium tinctorium 
K. and E. (figs. 1 and 2) is the cause of practically all the heart-rot so 
widely prevalent in hemlock throughout the Northwest. Being the 
only hydnaceous fungus of its kind and the only member of its genus, 
something of its history should be given. The fungus was first 
described as Homes tinctorvum by J. B. Ellis from the original speci- 
mens collected in Alaska by J. G. Swan. The teeth were broken 
from these specimens, and Ellis mistook the pits or scars for pores 
and called it a Fomes.' The fungus was next collected at Jansville, 
Idaho, by C. V. Piper, who sent it to Lloyd. Lloyd published it as 
Hydnum tinctorium. In a letter to the senior writer, Lloyd states 
that Ellis suggested that the fungus might well be the type of a new 
genus and should be called Echinodontium tinctorium. Lloyd used 
this name in his article and it was the first time the name was 
employed. In 1900, Hennings, of the University of Berlin, received 
some small specimens from Japan. Ignorant of the work of Ellis 
and Lloyd, he published the fungus as representing a new genus, 
calling it Hydnofomes tsugicola.2. The name Echinodontium first 
published by Lloyd has become so thoroughly established in forestry 
circles that any attempt to depose priority and use any other names, 
which in some respects are far more applicable, for instance, Hydno- 
fomes, would lead to some confusion in the ranks of practical foresters; 
hence the name given by Ellis and Lloyd will be used. 
| 1 Ellis, J. B. New fungi; mostly Uredineze and Ustilaginee from various localities, and a new Fomes 
} from Alaska. Jn Bul. Torrey Bot. Club, v. 22, no. 8, p. 362. 1895. . 
| 2 Lloyd, C. G. Mycological notes, no. 1, p. 2-3. 1898. 
3 Hennings, Paul. Fungijaponici. Jn Bot. Jahrb. [Engler], Bd. 28, Heft 2, p. 268. 1900. 
