530 Massee . — On Trichosphaeria Sac chari, Mass.; 
to consist to a large extent of fragments of mycelium and 
conidia belonging to the Trichosphaeria . These pellets when 
placed in a nutrient solution, gave origin to vigorous hyphae, 
produced from the conidia present, and also from the 
masticated fragments of hyphae (Fig. 21). It is known 
that the female beetle usually visits several canes, boring 
each in succession hence : it is highly probable that healthy 
canes may, through the agency of the beetle, become 
inoculated with the fungus. 
Summary. 
Experiments made with healthy sugar-cane grown at Kew 
demonstrate conclusively that the fungus called Tricho- 
sphaeria Sacchari can effect an entrance into healthy canes, 
quite independently of the agency of the ‘ shot-borer’ or ‘ moth- 
borer.’ 
Although a true parasite, in the sense of destroying per- 
fectly healthy, living tissues, the fungus almost invariably 
commences as a saprophyte, the conidia germinating on the 
remains of dead leaf-bases, scars formed by broken lateral 
branches, roots, &c., the hyphae afterwards passing into the 
living, uninjured tissue of the cane ; and judging from the fact 
that the disease is always most mature at the lower and older 
portion of the cane, it is evident that the fungus effects an 
entry by the means indicated. The cultures described also 
prove that the fungus can pass through the entire cycle of its 
development as a saprophyte. 
It is to be regretted that the entire cycle was not completed 
by reproducing the Melanconium stage from ascospores. It 
is possible that the highest, or ascigerous phase, is on the 
wane, as proved to be the case in other species of Fungi that 
have become decided parasites. The early saprophytic con- 
dition is a decided advantage in the present instance, bearing 
in mind the silicious cuticle of the sugar-cane. The external 
development of microconidia I am inclined to consider as 
a comparatively modem development from the less dif- 
ferentiated internal macroconidia ; the object in view being 
