ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
723 
first of these diseases of the turnip may also be caused by Sporidesmium 
putrefaciens. 
The injuries inflicted on the wild and cultivated strawberry — chiefly 
on the leaves and to a less extent on the stem — by Sphserella Fragarise 
are described by Sigg. E. Baroni and G. Del Guercio.* * * § 
Miss I. Clendenin | describes a species of Synchytrium, probably 
S. Stellarise, parasitic on Stellaria media in Louisiana. 
Sig. G. Del Guercio f finds large numbers of Caloptenus italicus , in 
the Florentine territory, killed by the attacks of a fungus belonging to 
the Entomophthoraceae, probably Empusa Grylli. 
Diseases of the Sugar-cane.§ — In addition to a number of diseases 
caused by nematode worms in the sugar-cane in New South Wales, Dr. 
N. A. Cobb describes one due to microbes — gumming, caused by Bacillus 
vascularum — and five due to Fungi, viz. : cane-rust ( Uromyces Kuhnii) ; 
cane-spume, a new term ( Strumella Sacchari ) ; cane-soot ( Macrosporium 
graminum ) ; cane-freckle, erroneously called rust (accompanied by 
Phoma Saccliari and a Botrytis, but of uncertain origin) ; and red-rot of 
the cane (caused by an unnamed parasitic fungus). 
Herr F. A. F. C. Went |] maintains that the “ sereh ” disease of the 
sugar-cane is not due, as has been stated, to a pathogenic Schizomy- 
cete, although the ubiquitous Bacillus subtilis is always found in the 
gummy exudation, but probably to an undescribed fungus, Hypocrea 
Sacchari sp. n. He also ascribes a new disease of the sugar-cane to 
another undescribed fungus, Colletotrichum clavatum sp. n. The so- 
called “ pine-apple ” disease of the sugar-cane he attributes to the 
attacks of a parasitic or saprophytic fungus which he makes the type of 
a new genus, Thievalopsis ethaceticus. The peculiar aromatic odour is 
due to the formation of ethyl acetate. 
Parasites of the Mushroom.1 — MM. J. Costantin and L. Matruchot 
describe in detail the structure of the fungi which produce the destruc- 
tive diseases of the mushroom known as vert de gris and platre ( Mycelio - 
phthora lutea and Monilia fimicola). Both are true parasites; the former 
is propagated by conids and chlamydospores, the latter by conids only. 
The mode in which they affect the host is described in detail, and the 
best mode of combating their attacks is pointed out. 
Systematic Position of Ditiola.** — From a careful examination of 
the rare Ditiola radicata , found growing on pine- wood, Herr G. Lindau 
comes to the conclusion that the genus must be placed among Dacryo- 
mycetes, intermediate between Dacryomitra and Guepinia. 
Fixity of Race in Mushrooms.f f — MM. J. Costantin and L. Matruchot 
communicate some interesting experiments as to the constancy of certain 
* Nuov. Giorn. Bot. Ital., i. (1894) pp. 208-16. 
t Bot. Gazette, xix. (1894) pp. 296-7 (1 pi.). 
I Bull. Soc. Bot. Ital., 1894, pp. 89-91. 
§ N.S.W. Deptmt. of Agric., Sydney, 1893, 30 pp. and 28 figs. 
|| Arch. v. d. Java Suikerindustrie, 1893, 72 pp. and 4 pis. See Bot. Centralbl., 
lix. (1894) pp. 42-4. 
f Rev. Gen. de Bot. (Bonnier), vi. (1894) pp. 289-300 (1 pi.). Cf. this Journal, 
1893, p. 509. ** Hedwigia, xxxiii. (1894) pp. 234-40 (1 pi.), 
tf Comptes Rendus, cxviii. (1894) pp. 1108-11. 
