150 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
ammonia in Raulin’s fluid, the growth of Aspergillus niger is much 
altered. At a temperature of 30°-40° C. the mycele grows* profusely, 
but forms no spores. At 20°-22°, even with 1 gr. of ammonium 
nitrate to 100 ccm., the fructification is retarded, but is not entirely 
arrested, while the growth of the mycele still goes ou. The author notes 
the appearance of free nitric acid in the culture-fluid in which the 
vegetating Aspergillus is growing. Moreover starch (though not in 
grains) is formed in the mould, both in light and darkness. 
Rotting of Fruits.* * § — Herr C. Wehmer asserts Penicillium glaucum to 
be much the most common cause of the rotting of fruits. In apples and 
pears it is accompanied by Mucor pyriformis , and in the case of medlars 
the latter species is the most common fungus. In lemons, oranges, and 
most tropical fruits, P. glaucum is associated with two other closely 
allied species, P. italicum and olivaceum. In plums Mucor racemosus was 
also observed. Botrytis cinerea forms grey tufts on walnuts. This 
last species and P. glaucum are the common fungi on grapes. 
Parasitic Fungi. — Messrs. L. M. Underwood and F. S. Earle f clear 
up the difficult synonymy of the species of Peridermium which are para- 
sitic on pines. In the eastern United States there are two species which 
inhabit leaves, P. acicolum and orientale ; and one, P. cerebrum , which is 
found only on stems, producing extensive gall-like swellings, often of 
enormous size. 
M. N. Patouillard J describes a remarkable deformation of a pine- 
cone produced by the attacks of an apparently new species of Uredineae 
which he names Cseoma conigenum. 
A disease of the sugar-cane very similar to that known as “ red-rot ” 
( Bothfdule ), is attributed by Herr J. H. Wakker § to the attacks of a 
new species of Marasmius which he names M. Sacchari. 
Mr. J. J. Davis || describes a new species of Uredineae Burrillia globu- 
lifera, parasitic on culms of Glyceria fluitans. 
Prof. M. C. Pottert details the development and nature of the conidial 
stage of Botrytis cinerea , a saprophyte which is the initial cause of the 
rotting of stored turnips. 
Sugar-Cane Diseases.** — Prof. F. A. F. C. Went gives details of the 
life-history of two fungi which cause destructive diseases of the sugar- 
cane, Colletotrichum falcatum and Tkielaviopsis ethaceticus, producing 
respectively the “ red smut ” and “ pineapple disease.” The first is a 
saprophyte on the leaves of the sugar-cane, but can become a wound- 
parasite. It does not appear to produce any other disease besides the red 
smut of Java. The second is a general saprophyte, behaving sometimes 
as a wound-parasite, and causing the pineapple disease of J ava. The evi- 
dence is at present insufficient which proposes to identify this latter 
* Beitr. z. Kentniss einheimisclier Pilze, ii. (1896). See Bot. Centralbl., Ixviii. 
(1896) p. 267. t Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, xxiii. (1896) pp. 400-5. 
X Journ. de Bot. (Morot), x. (1896) pp. 386-8 (1 pi.). 
§ Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., ii. (1896) 2 te Abt., pp. 45-56. 
|| Bot. Gazette, xxii. (1896) pp. 413-4. 
^ Journ. Board Agric., iii. (1896) 14 pp. and 4 pis. See Bot. Gazette, xxii. 
(1896) p. 503. 
** Ann. Bot., x. (1896) pp. 583-600 (1 pi.). Cf. this Journal, 1894, p. 380 ; 
1896, p. 550. 
