IO 
FUNGOID. DISEASES OF THE ROOTS OF Pita 
TREES: 
In April last the Board of Agriculture received for 
examination from Norwich a parcel of young fruit trees 
taken from an orchard of 40 acres, planted. in the pre- 
ceding November, which were apparently dying of a fungoid 
disease, the ravages of which were said to be very destruc- 
tive, and to be causing much alarm. The specimens were 
submitted to the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, 
who reported that they were attacked by a fungus 
belonging to the genus Aosellinza, the spawn or 
mycelium of which spreads below the surface of the 
soil, extending rapidly from the root of one tree to another. 
As this disease appears to be becoming prevalent, it has 
been thought desirable to reproduce here from the Kew 
Bulletin of 1896 the following article by Mr. G. Massee, 
F.L.S., on the various forms of white “ root-rot”’ caused by 
fungi of the genus Rosellinia (or Dematophora\, together 
with an account of the best known methods of combating 
tien —— 
Amongst the numerous root diseases of varicus plants 
caused by parasitic fungi, none are better known or extend- 
ing over a greater-area than the Pourridié of the French, 
which occurs in France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, South- 
West Germany, and has recently been recorded from three 
widely separated localities in Britain. The fungus causing 
this disease is called Dematophora necatrix, Hartig, which 
.frequently devastates vineyards and orchards; its attacks, 
however, are unfortunately not confined to vines and fruit 
trees; potatoes, beans, beet, etc., are also destroyed, and 
Hartig states that the mycelium soon kills young maples, 
oaks, beeches, pines, and spruces. © 
