Howard—On Trichosphaeria Sacchari, Massee. 627 
consequence the yearly loss suffered by the planters from 
£ Rind Fungus’ is very large, and it is obvious that these 
losses will be incurred in the future unless universal action is 
taken to destroy the spore-laden rotten canes as quickly as 
possible by burning. 
Macroconidial stage. 
All cultures of micro- and macroconidia in liquid media 
were made in sugar-cane extract which was in some cases 
stiffened with from fifteen to eighteen per cent, of gelatine. 
Preliminary cultures of the mixed micro- and macroconidia 
found in the interior of a cane were made on sterilized cane- 
slabs, in order to ascertain if only one Fungus was present. 
In twenty-four hours the slabs were covered with a white 
mycelium which in three days turned black through the 
development of large numbers of microconidia and a few 
macroconidia. Careful examination of these cultures did 
not disclose the presence of any other Fungus. To test this 
supposition six plate-cultures were made, using these spores 
for infection. The plates were speedily covered with a white 
mycelium, which in two days developed micro- and macro¬ 
conidia. The plates were kept under observation till the 
substratum dried up, but no other Fungus was observed. 
These plates were used for the following cultures. 
A series of flask-cultures was now made, using spores from 
the above plates. In twenty-four hours the flasks showed 
a considerable development of a submerged colourless myce¬ 
lium, which in forty-eight hours darkened on account of the 
formation of large numbers of micro- and macroconidia. On 
account of this extremely rapid spore-formation it appeared 
desirable to grow the macroconidium in hanging-drops and to 
study the development of this stage of the Fungus starting 
from a single macroconidium. 
On account of the simultaneous development of both 
macro- and microconidia in all the cultures obtained, some 
difficulty was experienced in obtaining a drop containing 
a single macroconidium unaccompanied by microconidia. 
