39 
REVIEWS OF RECENT LITERATURE. 
Woronin, Dr. M. Ueber die Sclerotierikrarikheit der Vaccinen-Beeren* 
Entwickelungsgeschichte der diese Kraukheitverursaclienden Scle- 
rotinieu, mit 10 Tafeln. Memoires de l’Academie imperiale des- 
Sciences de St. Petersbourg, YII. Ser., Tome XXXVI, Xo. G. r 
Prix: G m. 
The Sclerotium diseases of Vacciniam berries is the title of a new Ger¬ 
man work by Dr. M. Woronin, which forms one of the memoirs of the 
lloyal Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg. 
Four species of Sclerotinia, each attacking a different species of Vac- 
cinium are described and illstrated. The species and hosts are (1) 
Sclerotinia vaccinii , Wor. on V. Vitis Idcea ; (2) S. oxycocci, Wor. on 
V. oxycoccus ; (3) S. baecarum , Schr. on V. myrtillus ; and (4) S. megalos- 
pora , Wor. on V. uliginosum. 
The first named species is described in detail, and the following ab¬ 
stract consists mainly of the author’s own summary. 
Sclerotium vaccinii is a true parasite, which, however, leaves its host 
when the Sclerotium is mature, in order to develop itself farther at 
the expense of the reserve material which it has already appropriated. 
The gonidial stage appears in the spring upon leaves and stems of 
the new shoots of the Cowbeny, in the form of a dense, powdery, mold¬ 
like coating which emits a strong, pleasant, almond odor. On the stem 
the fungus usually appears near the end and only on one side, causing 
the branch to bend so that the fungus comes on the under concave side* 
The disease proceeds from the stem into the leaves, the bases of which 
become discolored. In the stem the greatest injury is caused to the 
cambium layer, which shrivels up and separates from the wood. In the 
outer bark tissues between the decaying cells is formed a pseudo-paren- 
chymatic cushion from which simple or often dicliotomously branched 
hyphra break out through the cuticle. These hyphse are at first beaded 
and continuous, but later double septa appear at the constrictions. In 
the center of these septa is cut out a spindle-shaped piece of cellulose,, 
the “ disjunctor,” which serves the purpose of separating the gonidia at 
maturity. The ends of the gonidia are at first incurved around these 
pieces, but when they separate the ends push out, making the gonidia. 
lemon-shaped. The septa form parts of what the author calls the “pri¬ 
mary membrane” of the spores, which forms just within the common 
cell-wall of the original beaded hypha. 
The ripe, separated gonidia germinate very differently according to 
the medium in which they happen to be placed. In perfectly pure water 
the surface of the gonidium becomes covered with small, round sper- 
matia-like sporidia, which are incapable of germination. In slightly 
impure water the gonidia put out short liyplise, which in turn produce 
