10 
Mycologia 
this type of fungus with the black stem but otherwise resembling 
P. admirabilis may clear up the relation between the apple tree 
form and those of the Melanopus group, and all these relation- 
ships must be cleared up if the question of protecting the apple 
tree against heart-rot is to be attacked with any degree of success. 
In every case where such a punk was discovered on the apple, 
it was found that the heart-wood was in a bad state of decay, 
although in some cases one would say, judging from external 
appearances, that the tree was perfectly sound. The pores in all 
of these species are very small and those of P. admirabilis are 
extremely minute. The tubes are 1-2 mm. long and the flesh 
varies in thickness 1-2 cm. at most toward the point of attach- 
ment. As I have noted, some of the specimens show lines or 
streaks extending from the margin to the central depressed region 
(PI. ip 4 , f. 2). The single fruit-hody shown at the base of the 
tree in PI. jyj, /. i, measured eighteen inches along its greatest 
diameter and weighed four and one half pounds. This is prob- 
ably the largest specimen of the species yet recorded and it has 
been placed in the Herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden. 
Dr. Murrill has confirmed the identification of the species. 
So far as I find, there is little in the literature relating to fungi 
that cause heart-rots of apple tree. Morse and Lewis of the 
Maine Agricultural Station describe several diseases affecting the 
leaves and fruit of apples and discuss briefly the wood-rots of the 
apple tree, but they do not ascribe the rots to any particular fungi. 
Craig has made extensive surveys of the apple orchards of New 
York and has discussed the subject of pruning as connected with 
the decay of trees. He does not mention having seen this fungus 
or any other of its kind on the living trees. The punks of this 
polypore are evidently either rare or have been overlooked, since 
there are only the half dozen specimens described above in the 
herbarium at Albany and two at the New York Botanical Garden. 
It will be interesting to learn whether a long rainy season, such 
as we had in July and August, 1915, is one of the conditions 
necessary for the production of the punks. 
We found another type of fungus growing from a decayed root 
stub in Mr. Bennett’s grove near Camp Columbia. It is a white 
