224 
Mycologia 
and considerable destruction of young segments and of older 
joints if previously attacked. Another fungus, Sclerotium Opun- 
tiarum, causes a disease which is somewhat serious in Argentina. 
Bulletin 371 of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station 
contains a description of the cause and control of the leaf blotch 
of horse chestnut. The disease causes the leaves to turn brown 
and die. It is so destructive to young seedlings that it is difficult 
to grow the trees from seeds and consequently most of the trees 
are imported, adding greatly to the expense. The disease is 
caused by the fungus known as Guignardia Aesculi. The destruc- 
tion of the old leaves will do much to retard the fungus, although 
this is not sufficient to check it entirely. Dusting with a mixture 
of sulfur and arsenate of lead is a very effective means of con- 
trolling the fungus, the dusting being considered preferable to 
treatment with liquid spray. 
“Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms,” by W. A. Murrill, ap- 
peared June 26, 1916. This work consists of a large colored chart 
and a handbook containing descriptions of the chief edible and 
poisonous species in North America, together with a discussion of 
edible and poisonous fungi in general and methods of preparing 
and cooking mushrooms. The treatment is brief, requiring only 
about seventy-five pages, but it covers the ground in a practical 
and safe way and will enable the intelligent mushroom-loving 
public to enjoy many of our native wild species without fear of 
unpleasant consequences. The author has erred rather on the 
side of safety, failing to figure and recommend for food the royal 
agaric, the bjushing amanita, the sheathed amanitopsis, and many 
other species which are excellent and often eaten. 
The chart was prepared under the author’s direction by a very 
careful artist and is suitable for hanging on the wall in libraries 
and schools, as well as in botanical museums. Different back- 
grounds are used for the edible and poisonous species, which are 
separated and plainly labeled so that no mistakes can occur. The 
maximum of safety lies in accurate figures and descriptions not 
only of species that may be safely eaten but also of all the dan- 
gerous species that should be avoided. 
