nourishment prepared by the tree for its own use, and even consume a 
part of the substance of the cells themselves. After a time, in a tree 
thus affected, white, felt-like masses of the fungus may be found filling 
the spaces that it has eaten out in the interior of the wood. The tree 
naturally suffers, and will eventually be killed. The presence of the 
parasite becomes fatal to it. After a time, and at the appropriate season, 
the triumphant fungus displays its brilliant-flame colored fructification 
on the trunk of the tree, making its victim flaunt the colors of the 
conqueror. 
Among the Agarics, also, a few are destructive to trees, in particular 
Armillaria mellea. Whole plantations of trees are sometimes overrun by 
the destroyer, which is so insidious in its attacks that great watchfulness 
is required on the part of the forester to keep his trees free from it. This 
fungus possesses a mycelium of peculiar form. It is collected in tough 
long branching strands like roots, black and somewhat shiny. On a tree 
attacked by the fungus these rootlike bodies (rhizomorphs) maybe discov¬ 
ered under the bark, in the substance of the wood, and also in the roots. 
Rootlike themselves in appearance, they are also rootlike in habit; for 
the} 7 reach out into the ground, not far below the surface, and sometimes 
grow' to the length of several feet. In this way they may pass from the 
roots of one tree to those of another, and thus, if unchecked, carry disease 
and death to many trees surrounding that first attacked. 
To those wdio have opportunity and interest the suggestion is made to 
secure specimens of these and other parasites which shall show plainly 
their destructive work. Such specimens can not be secured without some 
effort, and may require the use of spade and saw. If sufficient material 
can be gathered, it may serve to illustrate a talk at one of the coming- 
meetings. Good specimens will be welcomed by Dr. Farlow r for the 
permanent exhibition at the Agassiz Museum in Cambridge. 
Tricholoma. This genus is known among w r hite-spored agarics by 
its sinuate gills. The gills, that is to say, at the inner end are rounded 
upward and often attached to the stem by a little tooth. 
None of the species are poisonous, though several are ill-flavored. 
Those marked E are recommended as edible. 
The following may be looked for : 
T. equestre L. Pileus fleshy, viscid when moist, pale yellowish; flesh 
white or yellowish; gills nearly free, close, sulphur yellow'. 
T. sejunctum Sow. Pileus fleshy, umbonate, slightly viscid, with dark 
fibrils on a yellowish or greenish-yellow ground, variable; flesh white 
fragile; gills broad, rather distant; stem stout, solid, often irregular. A 
large form, often very abundant, with the prevailing color yellow, often 
very dark cap, and with a tendency to show' reddish tints in the stem and 
flesh, has been referred to this specfes. It has a mealy taste, and is a good, 
though rather coarse vegetable. E. 
T. portcntosum Fr. Pileus broad, smoky, often (with us) violaceous, 
thin in comparison with the stem, somewhat umbonate, unequal and 
repand, viscid when moist, streaked w'ith fibrils, but smooth to the touch ; 
flesh white, fragile; stem stout, solid, fibrous-fleshy, striate, white; gills 
broad, rounded, almost free, white but becoming pale grey or yellow, 
Odor none. Taste mild, pleasant. In pine woods and under firs, often 
under the needles. To be distinguished from T. terreum. E. 
T. resplendens Fr. White, sometimes yellowish on the disk, shining 
when dry; distinguished from all other white species by its viscidity. 
T. Russula Schaeff, Large, fleshy, becoming centrally depressed; dis¬ 
tinguished by its pale red or flesh color and by the red stains which 
appear on the gills. E. 
T. ustale Fr. Bay-brown-rufous, of a scorched appearance like an 
over-baked biscuit, umbonate then plane, even, not streaked; flesh 
white, becoming reddish in spots; stem long, at length hollow 7 , dry, fibril- 
lose; gills emarginate, crowded, ratheiqbroad, white, then reddish. E. 
