Pilzkrankheiten der Pflanzen 
143 
This is a discussion of the systematic position of Diaporthe para¬ 
sitica and its relationship with the European Endothia radicalis and the 
American Endothias. Morphologically, D. parasitica cannot be distinguished 
from the Italian E. radicalis , but in their parasitic relations they behave 
very differently. Likewise, the writer shows that an Endothia similar to 
D. parasitica occurs on Oaks in the United States, but there is also a 
southern Endothia on Oaks which is entirely distinct. From a systematic 
standpoint, he thinks D. parasitica would be more properly referred to 
the genus Endothia. Controlling the disease by any means which could 
be generally adopted is not considered feasible. 
Humphrey (Madison, Wise.). 
HEALD, F. D. and GARDNER, M. W., Preliminary note on the 
relative prevalence of pycnospores and ascospores of the 
Chestnut blight fungus during the winter (Science, N. S., 
1913, 37 [13 June], 916—917). 
By the use of pycnospore traps, consisting of absorbent cotton sus¬ 
pended below the disease cankers, the authors demonstrate that pycno¬ 
spores are produced in enormous numbers and washed down the diseased 
trees during every winter rain, the tests being carried out during January 
to April, inclusive. Ascospores do not appear to be thus washed down, 
although they are present in abundance in the pustules. The minimum 
temperatures at which ascospores are expelled vary from 52 to 60°, and 
during the experimental period practically none were liberated from November 
26 to March 21. Since pycnospores can be subjected to freezing temperatures 
for considerable periods without losing their vitality, they must thus play 
an important part in disseminating the disease. 
Humphrey (Madison, Wise.). 
HEALD, F. D. and STUDHALTER, R. A., Preliminary note on birds 
as carriers of the Chestnut blight fungus (Science, N. S., 1913, 
38 [22 Aug.], 278-280). 
Thirty-six birds, belonging to nine different species, were examined. 
The feet, tail, head and bill were scrubbed in 100 ccm distilled 
water. One ccm of this water was then diluted in 100 ccm fresh distilled 
water, which was further added to agar plates in quantities of 1 ccm or 
less. Six of the nine species of birds tested carried blight spores, the 
downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens villosus) and the Brown 
creeper (Certhia familiaris aniencana ) being the principal offenders. 
A direct relation exists between periods of maximum rainfall and 
number of spores obtained, the largest number occurring 2 to 4 days 
after a period of considerable rainfall. In the centrifuged wash water 
spores of many different fungi could be detected, but in all cases the 
blight spores were pycnospores rather than ascospores. 
Humphrey (Madison, Wise.). 
SHEAR, C. L. and STEVENS, NEIL E., The Chestnut blight parasite 
(.Endothia parasitica) from China (Science, N. S., 1913, 38 
[29 Aug.], 295—297). 
During June, 1913, specimens of diseased Chestnut bark from 
China were sent to the writers and found to contain pycnidia similar to 
