302 REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
saprophytic fungi cause the death of trees. The sporophores 
of the following species were found on the crowns and roots 
of forest trees which were evidently diseased or injured more 
or less: Tremellodon gelatinosum, Polyporus versicolar, Tri- 
choloma saponaceum, Micena epipterygia, Pholiota aurivella 
and Lycoperdon gemmatum. R. Aderhold*° also described 
“Eine Wurzelkrankheit junger Obstbaumchen.” About 5 per 
ct. of the apple and cherry trees died in certain nurseries 
during mid-summer. The browning of the cambial region was 
the first indication of injury. The mycelia of two fungi were 
found present on many injured roots, and that of one, on 
all affected ones. The fungus always found present Aderhold 
thought may possibly be Lusarium rhizogenum. Inoculation 
experiments were ttried with both fungi on apple and cherry 
roots but all were negative except one wound inoculation with 
Fusarium. In this case two small fibrous rootlets near the 
base of which the inocluation had been made, died and devel- 
oped the Fusarium mycelium, when placed in a moist cham- 
ber, though the inoculated root seemed to remain healthy. 
However, Fusarium was held to have caused the death of the 
nursery-tree roots. 
A very lengthy description of a root fungus is given by 
E. M. Wilcox.*! In the summary it is stated that “ The root- 
rot disease herein described is found in many of the orchards 
of the Southwest and is very common throughout many parts 
of Oklahoma.” 
A rhizomorphiec strand was found entering the cortex of a 
living Ben Davis tree through one of its dead roots. Cases 
are also said to have been seen where the fungus entered the 
crown first and then spread to the roots. But in many cases 
no mycelium was found “more than five or six inches above 
the crown.” 
“A root-rot of apple trees caused by Thelephora galactina 
Fr.” is discussed briefly by H. von Schrenk.” Three to six- 
20 Centbl. Bakt. u. Par., II, 6: 620-5. 1900. 
*t A rhizomorphic root-rot of fruit trees. Okla. Agr], Expt. Sta, Bul. 49. 
1904. 
2 Bot. Gaz., 34: 65. 1902. 
