114 
parasite, for so we must regard it, from New Jersey on oak ( Quercus 
cocinnea ), Florida on palmetto (Sabalpalmetto), and Texas on cultivated 
apples. From this it will be seen that it is not particular as to hosts or 
locality. There is no doubt that on trees having such soft, tender bark 
as the pear and apple the fungus will readily obtain a foothold and 
prove a very serious enemy. An allied species ( T.perdix , Hartig) occurs 
in Europe on oak, causing what is known as u partridge wood.” In this 
case the wood becomes a deep brown; then white spots appear upon 
these discolorations, giving to the affected parts a mottled appearance, 
hence the name. 
To our correspondent’s inquiries concerning the cause of the disease 
and its treatment we gave in reply to the first question substantially 
what is stated in the foregoing remarks, suggesting by way of an an¬ 
swer to the inquiries concerning treatment that he cut out all the dis¬ 
eased wood and, after washing the wounds thoroughly with a saturated 
solution of sulphate of iron or copperas, apply grafting wax or some¬ 
thing similar. Our suggestions were complied with to the letter, ex¬ 
cepting that a coat of shellac dissolved in alcohol was used instead of 
grafting wax. 
A few days ago we received a note from our correspondent saying 
that the treatment had proved entirely successful. The wounds healed 
readily and the trees which a year ago bore every indication of approach¬ 
ing death are now as vigorous as any in his orchard.— B. T. Galloway. 
DISEASE OF GERANIUMS. 
For a long time we have noticed a disease of geraniums which attacks 
the stems, causing them to turn black, shrivel, and sometimes become 
soft and mushy. The trouble is not confined to any particular variety, 
nor does it seem to be influenced to any great extent by soil or climate. 
It is a very troublesome thing in greenhouses, especially among cut¬ 
tings, which it often destroys by the thousand. Cuttings attacked by 
the disease begin to turn black at the severed end, the discolorations 
rapidly extending upward until the whole stem is involved. Occasion¬ 
ally the disease stops after an inch or more of the cutting is destroyed; 
but even if this takes place the plant eventually dies as soon as the sup¬ 
ply of nourishment in the green portion is exhausted. Cuttings rooted 
in the bench are not so apt to suffer from the disease as those im¬ 
mediately potted. The disease is also more troublesome where immature 
wood is used and when too much water is applied immediately after the 
cuttings are potted. ✓ 
Microscopic examination of the diseased tissues has so far revealed 
nothing in the shape of a fungus excepting where the wood has become 
soft, where, as might be expected, a number of saprophytic forms occur. 
Sections through portions of the stem as at a Fig. 1, where the disease 
is actually at work, reveals under the microscope immense numbers of 
bacteria, in some cases almost filling the cells and often escaping into 
the water in sufficient numbers to make the latter appear milky. 
